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Rolls Royce Powers RBA ‘Dreamliners’
By Za'im Zaini

Bandar Seri Begawan - Royal Brunei Airlines reiterating its plans for fleet renewal has selected the renowned aircraft engine maker, Rolls Royce to power their 4 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, according to a Rolls Royce recent release.

Royal Brunei Airlines is taking the 787s as part of a fleet renewal programme and deliveries are scheduled to begin in late 2009.

RBA's plan to utilise the engines also reflects the national aircraft's responsibility and concern towards the environment as Trent 1000 is designed to minimise impact on the environment and will deliver the lowest fuel bum economics. The engines will be covered by a long term TotalCareO service agreement that gives lifetime protection for each power plant.

Rozman Junaidi, Vice President of Corporate Communications of Royal Brunei Airlines in a press release was quoted as saying that they have considered all elements for their fleet replacement plan to ensure that they operate the most advanced equipment.

"There is no doubt that the Trent 1000 is the best engine for the 787 in terms of performance and environmental impact and will therefore, make valuable addition to our fleet," Rozman further said.

Nick Devall, Executive vice president of customer business at Rolls Royce, meanwhile have said that the Trent powered 787 forms part of Royal Brunei's strategic plan to modernise its fleet.

"Our relationship with Royal Brunei Airlines extends beyond 20 years and we are very proud to welcome them back to the list of Rolls Royce operators," he said.

The order of the Boeing 787s will be added to RBA's list of aircraft which includes 4 second hand Boeing 777s on lease.

Flight international has recently quoted RBA as saying that they are initially getting two 777-200ERS on lease. but whether they get another two 777s depends on the aircraft swap because they plan to phase out the existing 767s.

If they managed to let go of the 767s then they will get two more 1'77s.

RBA also states that the B777 aircraft will be used mainly on long-haul routes to Europe and Australia. This aircraft will also vastly improve Royal Brunei Airlines' capabilities by offering a higher passenger and cargo load capacity. The aircraft present the opportunity to operate direct flights to London without having to transit between destinations.

The leased B777 aircraft are an interim solution to the airline's re-fleeting programme, which, in line with RBA's Strategic Business Plan, aims to phase out the current Boeing 767 aircraft.

Under the re-fleeting programme Royal Brunei Airlines will also acquire new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft that have been ordered and are due for delivery in late 2009.

Rozman Junaidi last year told the Bulletin that the reason to get a bigger capacity aircraft was because of RBA's growing market for their trunk route, Europe and Australia.

"Demand has grown and we need to accommodate these demands," he explains.

Currently RBA's fleet includes six Boeing 767 aircraft, two Airbus 319 aircraft and two Airbus A320 aircraft. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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