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