Airline codes
BI · RBA
IATA · ICAO · callsign “BRUNEI”
Royal Brunei’s IATA code is BI, its ICAO code is RBA, and the radio callsign is BRUNEI. Type BI and your flight number into a status search to follow a Royal Brunei flight.
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Royal Brunei Airlines (BI) Guide
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Flights from Bandar Seri Begawan to Asia, Australia, the Middle East and London, fleet and cabins, baggage, check-in and how to find cheaper Royal Brunei fares. Ask a question
In short
Royal Brunei Airlines is the state-owned flag carrier of Brunei, based at Brunei International in Bandar Seri Begawan. It flies to destinations in Southeast and North Asia, Australia, the Middle East and London, which makes Brunei a possible stopover on trips to the UK. It has no alliance and runs Royal Skies. Cabins are Business, Economy with extra legroom, and Economy.
Royal Brunei Airlines is the state-owned national airline of Brunei Darussalam.
Please note: bookingMentor is an independent travel service and is not affiliated with Royal Brunei Airlines. Routes, schedules and baggage rules change, so always confirm the details of your booking with the airline.
What to expect
Royal Brunei Airlines is the state-owned national airline of Brunei Darussalam, headquartered in Bandar Seri Begawan and based at Brunei International Airport (BWN) in Berakas. It flies a small fleet of Airbus A320neos and Boeing 787-8s across Southeast Asia, North Asia, the Middle East, Australia and to London, and suits travellers who want a full-service carrier and a stop in Brunei on journeys between Asia, Australia and the United Kingdom.
First flights in 1975
The airline was founded on 18 November 1974 as Royal Brunei with two Boeing 737-200s. It started flying on 14 May 1975 from the newly built Brunei International Airport, opening Singapore, Hong Kong, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching on the same day.
How the network grew
Manila followed in 1976, Bangkok in 1977, Kuala Lumpur in 1981 and Darwin in 1983, the first step towards Australia. Jakarta, Taipei and Dubai came in the 1980s. In June 1990 a nonstop flight from Seattle to Nairobi lasted about 18 hours nonstop and was later listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Daily London Heathrow service started in 1996.
The Boeing 777 took over the London route on 17 June 2010, flying via Dubai, and the Boeing 787 made its first Royal Brunei flight on 18 October 2013, to Singapore. From 2 December 2013 the 787 flew to Heathrow via Dubai.
Who runs the airline?
The Government of Brunei owns 100 percent. Sabirin Abdul Hamid has been chief executive since 1 November 2022, and Juanda Abdul Rashid has chaired the board since January 2023.
Codeshare and interline partners without an alliance
Royal Brunei Airlines belongs to no global alliance. Instead it works with about 30 airlines through codeshare and interline agreements, among them Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Korean Air and Qantas. These let travellers continue beyond Bandar Seri Begawan, Dubai or Singapore on one ticket.
Using Brunei as a stopover
Royal Brunei's network makes Bandar Seri Begawan a natural break on a long trip, for example between Australia and Europe or between North Asia and Southeast Asia.
Fact-checked by the bookingMentor Travel Desk
Reviewed · Updated when rules or prices change
Checked against trusted sources:
Royal Brunei official website
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Good to know
- Founded1974
- Online check-inYes
Everything you should know
At a glance
Royal Brunei Airlines (IATA: BI, ICAO: RBA) is the state-owned flag carrier of Brunei, founded in 1974 and based at Brunei International Airport. It flies about 12 Boeing 787 and Airbus A320neo aircraft to destinations in Asia, Australia, the Middle East and London, with Business and Economy cabins.
| Headquarters | Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei |
|---|---|
| Fleet types | Boeing 787-8, Airbus A320neo |
| Frequent flyer | Royal Skies |
| Official website | flyroyalbrunei.com |
Flight routes
Destinations and routes
These are the cities on Royal Brunei’s published route map. Timetables change through the year, so check the Royal Brunei schedule before you plan around a route.
Search flights
Southeast Asia
Bandar Seri Begawan (BWN) departures6 destinations
FromTo BWN SIN Bandar Seri BegawanSingapore Available airlines1 airline- Royal Brunei Airlines
FromTo BWN KUL Bandar Seri BegawanKuala Lumpur Available airlines1 airline- Royal Brunei Airlines
FromTo BWN BKI Bandar Seri BegawanKota Kinabalu Available airlines1 airline- Royal Brunei Airlines
FromTo BWN BKK Bandar Seri BegawanBangkok Available airlines1 airline- Royal Brunei Airlines
FromTo BWN MNL Bandar Seri BegawanManila Available airlines1 airline- Royal Brunei Airlines
FromTo BWN CGK Bandar Seri BegawanJakarta Available airlines1 airline- Royal Brunei Airlines
North Asia
Bandar Seri Begawan (BWN) departures3 destinations
FromTo BWN HKG Bandar Seri BegawanHong Kong Available airlines1 airline- Royal Brunei Airlines
FromTo BWN NRT Bandar Seri BegawanTokyo Narita Available airlines1 airline- Royal Brunei Airlines
FromTo BWN PKX Bandar Seri BegawanBeijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) Available airlines1 airline- Royal Brunei Airlines
Australia, Middle East & Europe
Bandar Seri Begawan (BWN) departures4 destinations
FromTo BWN MEL Bandar Seri BegawanMelbourne Available airlines1 airline- Royal Brunei Airlines
FromTo BWN DXB Bandar Seri BegawanDubai Available airlines1 airline- Royal Brunei Airlines
FromTo BWN JED Bandar Seri BegawanJeddah Available airlines1 airline- Royal Brunei Airlines
FromTo BWN LHR Bandar Seri BegawanLondon Heathrow Available airlines1 airline- Royal Brunei Airlines
Fleet and aircraft
The fleet in August 2025 was 12 aircraft: seven Airbus A320neos with 150 seats for regional routes and five Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners with 254 seats for long-haul flights. Four Boeing 787-9s are on order, with deliveries expected from the second half of 2028.
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Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner Wide-body · 5 London, Dubai, Jeddah, Melbourne and busy Asian routes
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Airbus A320neo Narrow-body · 7 Regional Asian routes
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Boeing 787-9 Wide-body · 4 on order Deliveries expected from 2028
Cabin classes
Royal Brunei sells Business and Economy. The A320neo also has a section of Economy seats with extra legroom.
Economy All flights
Halal meals, no alcohol
MealsChecked bag included
Economy extra legroom Selected rows
More room for a fee
Extra legroom
Business All aircraft
Flat beds on the 787
Sky Lounge in BruneiPriority servicesExtra baggage
Royal Skies
Royal Skies is Royal Brunei’s frequent flyer scheme, and you can sign up on flyroyalbrunei.com.
The SkyLounge at Brunei International Airport opened in January 2004 on the airside mezzanine of the departure hall. Business passengers, Royal Skies Gold and Silver members and Priority Pass holders can use it, along with qualifying members of some partner airlines.
Royal Skies launched in May 2003 and has Blue, Silver and Gold tiers. Miles expire after three years. Upgrade awards start at 5,000 miles and free flights at 15,000 miles.
Baggage allowance
Check your e-ticket for the exact Royal Brunei allowance. It is set by the fare type, the cabin and the route, whether you start at BWN or another airport.
Checked baggage
On your e-ticket
Cabin baggage
Depends on fare
Extra bags
Cheaper before you fly
Power banks
Cabin bag only
Allowances depend on route, cabin and fare and are shown on your e-ticket.
Pro tip: Check the baggage allowance for your fare on flyroyalbrunei.com before travelling, as it differs by route and cabin.
Travel day
Online Check-in
Here is the order to follow for a BI flight: check in, sort your documents, meet the airport deadline and drop your bags.
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Step 1
Check in online
Online check-in for BI flights is on the official Royal Brunei website or app. You need the BI booking reference or e-ticket number and the passenger’s surname.
Booking ref + surname -
Step 2
Prepare your documents
Before leaving for the airport, check that your passport is valid and that you hold any visa or entry document needed at the other end of your Royal Brunei flight. Domestic BI passengers should bring a photo ID the airline accepts.
Passport · visa · ID -
Step 3
Arrive early
Get to the airport with time for Royal Brunei check-in, bag drop and security. The airline sets a deadline for each airport, shown in your booking, and late arrivals can lose their seat.
Well before departure -
Step 4
Drop your bags
At the airport, take your bags to the Royal Brunei bag-drop point. Collect a printed BI boarding pass there if you have not saved one to your phone.
Royal Brunei counter
Ready to check in?
Check in and manage your booking on the official Royal Brunei website.
Save money
Cheap tickets
Royal Brunei fares out of Bandar Seri Begawan move with the season and the fare brand. These habits help keep the price down.
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01
Be flexible with your Royal Brunei dates
Compare a full week of Royal Brunei departures; midweek days are often priced below Fridays and Sundays.
Midweek flights -
02
Avoid peak seasons
Hari Raya, Christmas and school holidays are the busiest periods.
Hari Raya & school holidays -
03
Check what each Royal Brunei fare includes
A Royal Brunei fare that includes a checked bag, seat choice or cheaper changes can cost less overall than adding those extras later.
Baggage & changes -
04
Consider a Brunei stopover
Trips between Australia, Asia and London connect in Brunei, and a short stopover is easy to add.
BWN -
Ready to compare fares?
Search Royal Brunei alongside every other airline on your route, with flexible dates.
Search Royal Brunei flights
Reviews and questions
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Visitors are asking
No. Royal Brunei does not serve alcohol, and all meals on board are halal.
Yes. Royal Brunei flies Boeing 787s to London Heathrow.
Change rules come with each Royal Brunei fare, and the lowest ones allow the least. Make changes through the airline or whoever sold you the ticket.
Babies under two can normally sit on a parent’s lap with an infant ticket on Royal Brunei. Include them in the booking and read the airline’s rules on prams and car seats before you go.
Enter your BI flight number on flyroyalbrunei.com or in the app, or watch the departure boards at the airport.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Everything travellers ask before flying Royal Brunei Airlines.
We check these Royal Brunei answers with the airline’s own sources and aviation references every season.
Getting there
Royal Brunei Airlines is based at Brunei International Airport in Berakas, near the capital Bandar Seri Begawan. All of its scheduled flights operate through this hub, which makes Brunei a natural stopover point.
No. Royal Brunei Airlines is not a member of a global alliance. It works with about 30 partner airlines through codeshare and interline deals, including Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, British Airways and Qantas.
Royal Brunei Airlines started flying on 14 May 1975, with Singapore, Hong Kong, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching served from the first day.
Royal Brunei Airlines uses the IATA code BI and the ICAO code RBA. Its radio callsign is BRUNEI.
Online check-in: yes. Check in on flyroyalbrunei.com. The Check-in section of this guide walks through it in 4 steps.
Royal Brunei Airlines was founded in 1974, 52 years ago.
Contact Royal Brunei Airlines through its official website, flyroyalbrunei.com.
General
Royal Brunei Airlines offers Business and Economy. On its Airbus A320neo aircraft there is also an extra legroom section within economy. Check the seat map for your flight when booking or managing your trip.
Royal Skies is the frequent flyer programme of Royal Brunei Airlines. It has Blue, Silver and Gold tiers. Members earn points on eligible flights and can redeem them for award travel and other rewards.
Baggage allowances depend on your route, cabin and fare. Check the allowance in your booking or the baggage section of flyroyalbrunei.com before you fly, especially on long-haul trips with connections.
Yes. Royal Brunei has flown to London Heathrow since 1996, using Boeing 787s via Dubai since December 2013.
The SkyLounge in Brunei is open to Business passengers, Royal Skies Gold and Silver members, Priority Pass holders and some partner airline elite members.
Booking
Royal Brunei had 12 aircraft in August 2025: seven Airbus A320neos and five Boeing 787-8s. Four Boeing 787-9s are on order for delivery from 2028.
Royal Skies upgrades start at 5,000 miles and free flights at 15,000 miles. Miles expire after three years.
Royal Brunei Airlines flies to about 20–30 destinations. They are listed by region, with fares and route guides where we have them, in the destinations section of this page.