Royal Brunei Airlines To Reach New Destinations And Increase Fleet

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei's national carrier, Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) is to increase its fleet and reach new destinations, Communications Minister Pehin Dato Awang Haji Zakaria said on Friday night.

RBA will inaugurate new services to Auckland, Tokyo, Seoul, Sydney and Ho Chi Minh City between now and 2005 and it will start non-stop flights between Frankfurt and Bangkok, and between London and Brunei this year and next.

The minister was speaking at RBA's Gala Awards And Strategic Plan Launch Night on Friday night.

The key recommendations of the Strategic Plan require RBA to increase its fleet size from 10 aircraft by the year 2013.

The fleet make up will change from eight Boeing 767-300 and Boeing 757-200 aircraft in the year 2003 to new narrow-bodied aircraft and six new wide-bodied aircraft by the year 2013.

Touching on the current Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) crisis the minister remarked that in recent weeks, Asian airlines were facing an even greater challenge than the September 11 debacle.

The outbreak of the deadly Sars, in many parts of Asia Pacific, has adversely affected travel and tourism in the region forcing many airlines to cut back and cancel flights because of declining traffic.

The minister added that Asian airlines faced a drastic drop in earnings as demand for holiday and business travel forced airlines to cut flights across the region.

There was also the presentation of awards for employees who had served for 20 and 25 years and presentations of tokens of appreciation and merit awards, retiree and captaincy awards.

The ceremony was held at the International Convention Centre in Berakas. -- Courtesy of Radio Television Brunei

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