By Anthony Tan
VIRGIN Communications
email: anthonykhtan@yahoo.co.uk

Starting 5 November, Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) is flying to Bintulu in Sarawak five times weekly followed by daily flights to Tawau in Sabah on Wednesdays through Mondays from 11 November.

It will also be flying to Sibu in Sarawak twice on Saturdays, plus daily flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 14 November 2019. 

 

Driveway Approaching Sandakan Airport

These new flights are subject to confirmation. They follow after the successful launch of its two earlier services to Kota Kinabalu (KK) on 29 July and Sandakan on 28 October under phase one of its RB Link regional initiative that connects towns and cities in East Malaysia and Indonesia’s Kalimantan from its base at Brunei International Airport.

Royal Brunei Airlines Connects Sandakan Globally 

Sandakan Airport Departure Hall

RBA’s recent launch of its inaugural Bandar Seri Begawan-Sandakan service served as a catalyst not only for both destinations to forge closer ties culturally and economically but also provided a golden opportunity to link Sandakan to international markets such as China, Japan, UK and Australia which

One of the major exports by air cargo from
Sandakan is fresh and live seafood 

offer great tourism and export opportunities.

Being the first international airline to fly into Sandakan, RBA Vice President of Government and International Relations Rory Ilyas Teo believes Sandakan will benefit from the airline’s value pricing and five-star full-service offerings. 

Its inaugural flight, which touched down at Sandakan Airport at 2.15 pm with 72 passengers, was given the traditional water canon salute. 

Also present to welcome its historical arrival were Sandakan Member of Parliament Vivian Wong Shir Yee, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) Senior Manager of Routes Development Zainuddin Mohamed, Sabah Tourism General Manager Noredah Othman and Sandakan Tourism Association President Teo Chee Kim.

This six-time weekly RB Link service to Sandakan is starting out with two brand new ATR 72-600 aircraft. owned by RBA, with the wet lease aircraft operated by Malindo Air.  Details of its flight schedule are as follows:

Flight No	Sector	Depart	Arrival	Operation Days
BI 6813	Bandar Seri Begawan - Sandakan	13.30	14.25	Mon/Fri/Sun
BI 6814	Sandakan - Bandar Seri Begawan	15.05	16.10	Mon/Fri/Sun
BI 6817	Bandar Seri Begawan - Sandakan	19.00	20.05	Tues/Wed/Sat
BI 6818	Sandakan - Bandar Seri Begawan	20.35	21.40	Tues/Wed/Sat

View of Sandakan town with a 
beautiful coastline

In his welcome message, MAHB Group Chief Executive Officer Raja Azmi Raja Nazuddin said Sandakan Airport saw 12% increase in passenger movements from January to August as compared to 2018.

He is confident RBA is poised to capitalise on the demand of both leisure and business traffic for this sector and will subsequently contribute to Sabah’s overall development as Bruneians are frequent visitors to Sabah, especially in KK, Ranau and Kota Belud. 

Raja Azmi envisaged the improved ease of exploring the East Coast of Sabah with RB Link’s seamless booking will enhance connectivity from long haul destinations such as the UK and Australia to Sandakan.

Sabah Tourism General
Manager Noredah Othman 

Noredah viewed this new service as timely with Sandakan commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Sandakan Death Marches in August 2020. “We would like to encourage more British and Australians to gather here in remembrance of this history.”

To Teo, “Better flight connection is the key to develop further our tourism industry.” Thus, RB Link is a huge step forward for Sandakan. As such, he encouraged the tourism stakeholders in Sandakan should seize this opportunity to promote and market Sandakan to Brunei and beyond, especially to the European and Australian markets.

Sandakan Tourism
Association President
Teo Chee Kim

What RB Link service offer

RB Link full-service experience include a light snack and drink for flights over an hour and checked baggage allowance of 15 kg or for connecting guests, the weight in-line with international fare rules (starting from 30 kg in the Economy class). 

Guests onboard also enjoy RBA’s signature service and its Muhibah inflight magazine. They can use their personal electronic devices for entertainment.

Its aircraft has 72 Economy class seats with four preferred seats on a 43-inch seat pitch and six preferred seats with 33-inch seat pitch.

While Malindo Air provides the aircraft, maintenance, insurance and staff, the service and amenities onboard are from RBA, which will also be training the staff according to its service standards.

Sandakan Tourism Association (STAN) and Sabah Tourism Board jointly put an aggressive promotion for Sandakan during the September MATTA Fair 2019, the largest travel fair in Malaysia. STAN also took the opportunity to launch "Your Essential Guide To Sandakan" booklet at the travel fair.