Editing Royal Brunei Airlines (section)

==History==
===Pre-independence===
[[File:Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing 737-200 Green-1.jpg|thumb|[[Boeing 737-200]] (VR-UED) of Royal Brunei in 1983]]

Royal Brunei Airlines was established (as merely '''Royal Brunei''') on 18 November 1974 with two, then new [[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-200]]s.<ref name="RBA History">{{Cite web |title=Royal Brunei Airlines {{!}} History|url=http://www.BruneiAir.com/aboutus/history.asp|website=BruneiAir.com|publisher=Royal Brunei Airlines|date=2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209214444/http://www.bruneiair.com/aboutus/history.asp|archive-date=9 February 2010|access-date=7 December 2010}}</ref><ref name="Oil">{{Cite journal |title=Oil-Fired Ambition |url=http://www.FlightGlobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1990/1990%20-%202870.html |website=www.FlightGlobal.com |publisher=[[Flight International]] |date=19 September 1990|access-date=7 December 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614234207/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1990/1990%20-%202870.html|archive-date=14 June 2013 }}</ref> The airline's maiden voyage was on 14 May 1975<ref name="RBA History"/> from the then newly built Brunei International Airport to Singapore. Flights to the then [[British Hong Kong|British colony]] of Hong Kong, and the city of [[Kota Kinabalu]] and [[Kuching]] in [[East Malaysia]] ([[Malaysian Borneo]]) started the same day.

Early route expansion included services to [[Metro Manila|Manila]] in 1976, and [[Bangkok]] in 1977. Three years later, Royal Brunei acquired a Boeing 737-200QC, its third Boeing 737, enabling it to reach [[Kuala Lumpur]] in 1981 and [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]] in 1983.

===From national independence: 1984–1991===
After the independence of Brunei from the [[United Kingdom]] on 1 January 1984, services commenced to [[Jakarta]] on 3 January,<ref name="RBA History"/> thus linking all five [[ASEAN]] capital cities at the time from Brunei: Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, and Singapore.

Three [[Boeing 757|Boeing 757-200s]] were purchased in the mid-1980s, to enable the airline to expand to [[Taipei]] in 1986 and [[Dubai]] in 1988.<ref name="RBA History"/> They were also used on existing high-capacity routes to Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Jakarta, and Kuala Lumpur; after the introduction of the 757, its smaller sibling was phased out.<ref name="Oil"/> In June 1990, Royal Brunei Airlines achieved a historic milestone with a non-stop long-distance flight from [[Seattle]] to [[Mombasa]]/[[Nairobi]], using Brunei's first twin-engined commercial jet. The 18-hour flight covered 14,856.19 kilometres (7,842 nautical miles) and consumed 74.2 tons of fuel. This achievement, led by local pilot Captain Khalidkhan bin Haji Asmakhan, was a test of the airline's new aircraft for long-haul suitability. Recognised in ''[[The Guinness Book of Records]]'' in 1992, the accomplishment brought international recognition to Brunei.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Adibah HMJ |year=2019 |title=Tahukah Biskita: Syarikat Penerbangan Diraja Brunei Catat Sejarah Dalam Rekod Dunia Tahun 1990 |journal=Majalah Pusaka |language=ms |location=Bandar Seri Begawan |publisher=[[Brunei History Centre]] |volume=46 |pages=42–43}}</ref>

===Rapid expansion: 1992–1996===
[[File:Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing 757-200 Smith.jpg|thumb|The arrival of [[Boeing 757-200]] commenced the beginning of Royal Brunei's mid- and long-haul expansion.]]

With the airline's rapid expansion, the 737s were sold, replaced by the [[Boeing 767]]. Before that, 757-200s served the airline between Brunei, the Middle East, and Gatwick.

The delivery of the first Boeing 767 (after a leased 767-200 registered CC-CEX) broke a world record when it flew 17&nbsp;hours and 22&nbsp;minutes non-stop from [[Boeing]]'s factory in [[Seattle]] to [[Jomo Kenyatta International Airport]], [[Nairobi]], on its way to Brunei.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bailey |first=John |date=June 1990 |title=767 beats performance records |url=http://www.FlightGlobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1990/1990%20-%201748.htm |website=FlightGlobal.com |publisher=[[Flight International]]|access-date=7 December 2010}}{{Dead link|date=April 2022}}</ref> Seven more 767s were delivered, taking the fleet to eight Boeing 767s and two Boeing 757s (one of the 757s was sold to fund the purchase of the new 767s).

In March 1993, [[Abu Dhabi]] was added to the route network, through which flights to Frankfurt and [[Jeddah]], were re-routed instead of Dubai. [[Bali]] was the second Indonesian city to be added to the network in May of the year. Flights to the third European destination, [[Zürich]], commenced in August 1993 via Kuala Lumpur and another new destination, [[Bahrain]]. Before the end of the year, the airline was inaugurating services to Beijing (October) and [[Cairo]] (November), via Kuala Lumpur and Bahrain, respectively. Royal Brunei Airlines sold its last [[Boeing 737]] to [[Aloha Airlines]].<ref name="Oil"/>

The growth of the network continued in [[1994 in aviation|1994]]. The delivery of two [[Fokker 50]]s was used to start services to [[Miri, Malaysia|Miri]] and [[Labuan Territory|Labuan]] in east Malaysia of the same year. Flights to [[Brisbane]] and [[Osaka]] were also commenced in June and December, respectively; (the Brisbane service was initially routed via Darwin but later upgraded to a [[non-stop flight]]). The desire to link all the major [[Petroleum|oil and gas]] cities on [[Borneo]] saw the addition of [[Balikpapan]] to the route network in December.

Also in 1994, services began to [[Kolkata]] via Singapore and then on towards Dubai. Two [[Dornier 228]]s were purchased in the same year, and leased to the Malaysian regional carrier, [[Hornbill Skyways]], to connect Brunei by air to [[Mulu Airport]]. Services to Cairo and [[Kolkata]] (via Singapore) were suspended in mid-1995 due to low passenger numbers.

The F-50s were replaced by the larger and more comfortable [[Fokker 100]] (used, from previous owner [[Swissair]]) in 1996,<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Royal Brunei Airlines receives first of two used Fokker 100s |url=http://www.FlightGlobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1996/1996%20-%203184.html |website=FlightGlobal.com |publisher=[[Flight International]] |date=4 December 1996|access-date=7 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306215249/https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1996/1996%20-%203184.html|archive-date=6 March 2016|url-status=dead }}</ref> which fuelled expansion to [[Bintulu]]. The route to Zürich was suspended in September 1996, to enable Royal Brunei to commence daily services to London Heathrow. Some London flights were routed through [[Yangon]] and Abu Dhabi, instead of via Singapore and Dubai; however, Yangon proved uneconomical and was discontinued the following year.

===Consolidation: 1997–2002===
[[File:Royal.brunei.b767-300er.v8-rbk.arp.jpg|thumb|Royal Brunei Airlines [[Boeing 767|Boeing 767-300ER]] (V8-RBK) landing. This particular aircraft was leased to [[Vietnam Airlines]] during the mid- to late-1990s.{{Cn|date=October 2024}}]]

On 6 September 1997, [[Royal Brunei Airlines Flight 839]], a Dornier 228 owned by Royal Brunei Airlines, but operated and maintained by Malaysian regional carrier Hornbill Airways, carrying 10 passengers to Miri, crashed into high ground near Miri airport. All eight passengers and two crew died. The remaining Dornier 228s were sold in 1997, and short-haul services connecting Brunei to Miri, Labuan, Mulu, and Bintulu were terminated.

Later that year, [[Surabaya]] was the fourth Indonesian destination to be added. Unprofitable routes to Beijing and Osaka were suspended in 1998, and the F-100s were also sold to [[Alpi Eagles|Alpi Eagles Airlines]] in 1998. [[Kuwait]] was added to the network in 2000, and was served via Singapore, Kolkata, and Dubai. It was suspended a year later. Services also began to [[Shanghai Pudong International Airport]] in 2001. Royal Brunei started online booking facilities the same year.

===Restructuring: 2003–2005===
In September 2002, Peter Foster was appointed as chief executive officer (CEO). He began major restructuring in 2003, after years of unprofitable operation. The plan was for Royal Brunei's fleet to grow from nine to twenty-four aircraft in a ten-year period, from 2003 to 2013. The fleet of six [[Boeing 767]]s would be changed to fifteen new [[narrow-body aircraft]] and eight [[wide-body aircraft]]; half of the new aircraft to be leased, and the others to be purchased. The plan also included new services to [[Auckland]], [[Ho Chi Minh City]], Sydney, Seoul, and Tokyo, as well as raising frequencies on other flights.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

The deliveries of the new [[Airbus A319]] and [[Airbus A320#A320|A320]] in 2002 and 2003, respectively, marked the start of the re-equipping exercise.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.BruneiAir.com/news/item.asp?id=76&PagePosition=20 |title=Royal Brunei Airlines receives its first Airbus A320 |website=BruneiAir.com |publisher=Royal Brunei Airlines |date=21 December 2003|access-date=9 December 2010}}{{Dead link|date=December 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> Two new [[IAE V2500|V2500]]-powered A319s were delivered on 28 August and 3 September. A320s were added on 21 December 2003 and 3 January 2005. All of the Airbus were leased from [[CIT Group]] in a seven-year contract,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.BruneiAir.com/news/item.asp?id=21&PagePosition=26 |title=Royal Brunei Airlines orders new aircraft |website=BruneiAir.com |publisher=Royal Brunei Airlines |date=11 April 2002|access-date=9 December 2010}}{{Dead link|date=December 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> and are deployed mainly on regional routes. With their introduction, the [[Boeing 757]]s were phased out and sold to other parties.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

On 31 October 2003, a Royal Brunei Airlines aircraft touched down at [[Auckland Airport]], making it the first destination in New Zealand, and the first new destination added to the network as part of the restructuring exercise. On May the launching of ''Royal Skies'', the airline's [[frequent-flyer program]].{{cn|date=February 2024}}

At the end of 2003, Royal Brunei Airlines entered a controversial agreement with [[Royal Tongan Airlines]] of [[Tonga]]. Under the agreement, Royal Tongan Airlines [[Wet lease|wet-leased]] is one of the two remaining Boeing 757s. In return, Royal Brunei Airlines was given the opportunity to open up US markets via Tonga. However, before US routes could be planned Royal Tongan Airlines went into bankruptcy with huge debts in mid-2004, after less than six months of operation. As Royal Tongan Airlines was unable to pay the lease fees, the 757 was repossessed and stored.{{Citation needed|date=July 2018}}

Starting in March 2004, four of Royal Brunei Airline's Boeing 767s were modified by the introduction of SkyDreamer seats in [[Business Class]], to replace the old First Class and Business Class Skyluxe seats. Business Class was renamed as Sky Executive Class, and in [[Economy class]], each seat was installed with an 8.4&nbsp;inch television. Sky Executive Class was subsequently renamed Business Class following poor response from the public.{{Citation needed|date=July 2018}}

The unprofitable [[Taipei]] route was suspended in late 2004. Kuching and Kolkata were dropped on 31 October 2004 due to rising fuel prices, but at the same time, Sydney was added to the route network. Commencing 17 December, flights to Jeddah were routed through [[Sharjah (city)|Sharjah]] instead of Abu Dhabi.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://SHJ-Airport.gov.ae/pressair57.htm |title=Sharjah International Airport press release |website=SHJ-Airport.gov.ae |publisher=[[Sharjah International Airport]]|access-date=28 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023081039/http://shj-airport.gov.ae/pressair57.htm|archive-date=23 October 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> During the year, the airline launched ''Blue Sky Fares'', a low-cost internet booking facility, offering cheaper economy class fares on selected destinations, to compete with [[low-cost carrier]]s in the region, such as [[AirAsia]]. In August 2005, Peter Foster resigned as CEO to take up a similar post at another airline.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

===Growth: 2006–2011===
[[File:Royal Brunei Airlines Boeing 777-200ER SDS-1.jpg|thumb|A former Royal Brunei Airlines [[777-200ER|Boeing 777-200ER]] in 2012]]

Royal Brunei Airlines added [[Ho Chi Minh City]] to its network list in May 2006, a destination served thrice weekly.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

Brunei Darussalam and the United Kingdom (UK) agreed to allow more air services between the countries on 23 November 2007, enhancing the two countries' cooperation in the aviation sector.<ref name=Brusearch>{{Cite web |author=M K Anwar |title=New Brunei-UK air services agreement |url=http://www.Brusearch.com/news/22177 |website=Brusearch.com |publisher=Brusearch 2.0 |date=24 November 2007|access-date=9 December 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708101529/http://www.brusearch.com/news/22177|archive-date=8 July 2011}}</ref> The agreement came into action with immediate effect. This came off the back of the latest tourism figures of 3,459 European holiday visitor arrivals from January to August 2007.<ref name=Brusearch/>

In early September 2007, Royal Brunei Airlines suspended flights to Frankfurt am Main as part of its latest restructuring exercise.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.BruneiAir.com/news/item.asp?id=744 |title=Royal Brunei Airlines to temporary suspend Frankfurt service |website=BruneiAir.com |publisher=Royal Brunei Airlines|access-date=8 April 2008}}{{Dead link|date=August 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> [[Kuching]] was reintroduced to the network on 1 December 2007, after a break of three years.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.BruneiAir.com/news/item.asp?id=823 |title=Royal Brunei Airlines flies to Kuching |website=BruneiAir.com |publisher=Royal Brunei Airlines|access-date=8 April 2008}}{{Dead link|date=August 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> Royal Brunei Airlines then suspended services to [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]] on 26 January 2008, after serving the route for 24 years.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.BruneiAir.com/news/item.asp?id=843 |title=Royal Brunei Airlines to suspend Darwin service |website=BruneiAir.com |publisher=Royal Brunei Airlines|access-date=8 April 2008}}{{Dead link|date=August 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> [[Sharjah (city)|Sharjah]] was also dropped from the network early 2008, as [[Jeddah]] flights are served non-stop from [[Bandar Seri Begawan]]. Shanghai was 'suspended' in April 2008,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.BruneiAir.com/news/item.asp?id=983 |title=Royal Brunei to suspend Shanghai services |website=BruneiAir.com |publisher=Royal Brunei Airlines|access-date=8 April 2008}}{{Dead link|date=August 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> and Sydney and [[Bali]] were dropped from the summer schedule of 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.BruneiAir.com/news/item.asp?id=984 |title=Summer Schedule improves connectivity to key destinations |website=BruneiAir.com |publisher=Royal Brunei Airlines|access-date=8 April 2008}}{{Dead link|date=August 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

On 2 June 2008, Royal Brunei Airlines increased services to Auckland from [[Bandar Seri Begawan]] by offering a new three-weekly direct service. This direct service was in addition to an increase in the frequency of the existing route via [[Brisbane]] from three to four times a week.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.Auckland-Airport.co.nz/NewsHistory/press_releases.php?rid=287 |title=Royal Brunei Airlines increases Auckland service |website=Auckland-Airport.co.nz |publisher=[[Auckland Airport]]|access-date=3 June 2008}}</ref> The following year, Robert Yang was appointed as chief executive officer effective from 1 July, after the departure of Ray Sayer.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

From 28 March 2010, the service to Shanghai resumed with a frequency of four times per week. Auckland was delinked from Brisbane, making Auckland five times per week, and Brisbane six times per week. From 17 June 2010, Royal Brunei Airlines introduced ex-[[Singapore Airlines]] [[Boeing 777|Boeing 777-200ER]] aircraft to replace the Boeing 767 fleet being returned to their lessors;<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.BT.com.bn/en/business-national/2010/04/22/flag-carrier-set-announce-fleet-renewal-says-ceo |title=Flag carrier set to announce fleet renewal, says CEO |website=BT.com.bn |publisher=[[The Brunei Times]] |date=22 April 2010|access-date=25 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.Archive.org/web/20100425050248/http://BT.com.bn/en/business-national/2010/04/22/flag-carrier-set-announce-fleet-renewal-says-ceo|archive-date=25 April 2010}}</ref> the inaugural Boeing 777 service was the Bandar Seri Begawan to London Heathrow service via Dubai, on 17 June.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Boeing 777 takes off to London |url=http://www.BruneiAir.com/news/item.asp?id=1928&PagePosition=1 |website=BruneiAir.com |publisher=Royal Brunei Airlines |date=22 June 2010|access-date=7 December 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010190002/http://www.bruneiair.com/news/item.asp?id=1928&PagePosition=1|archive-date=10 October 2010}}</ref> The last of the airline's long-serving Boeing 767s were withdrawn from service on 27 September.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RBA says 'farewell' to Boeing 767 aircraft |url=http://www.BruneiAir.com/news/item.asp?id=1988&PagePosition=1 |website=BruneiAir.com |publisher=Royal Brunei Airlines |date=27 September 2010|access-date=7 December 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010185944/http://www.bruneiair.com/news/item.asp?id=1988&PagePosition=1|archive-date=10 October 2010}}</ref> Plans were also announced during the year for a four times a week Brunei to [[Melbourne]] service with the Boeing 777-200ER, starting from 29 March 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Royal Brunei Airlines to fly to Melbourne |url=http://www.BruneiAir.com/news/item.asp?id=2008&PagePosition=1 |website=BruneiAir.com |publisher=Royal Brunei Airlines |date=15 October 2010|access-date=7 December 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101117132922/http://www.bruneiair.com/news/item.asp?id=2008&PagePosition=1|archive-date=17 November 2010}}</ref>

On 12 February 2011, Brudirect.com reported that Robert Yang had announced his resignation as the CEO of Royal Brunei Airlines, with effect from 1 March 2011.<ref>{{Cite news |title=RBA shock: CEO quits |url=http://www.Brudirect.com/index.php/Top-News/rba-shock-robert-yang-ceo-quits.html |website=Brudirect.com |date=12 February 2011|access-date=15 February 2011}}</ref>

===Stabilisation plan: 2012–present===
[[File:Boeing 787-8 'V8-DLC' (21920761932).jpg|thumb|A [[Boeing 787-8]] of Royal Brunei at [[London Heathrow Airport]] in 2015]]

On 21 June 2012, Royal Brunei Airlines announced that the company was implementing a plan to improve its operations, financial 'performance', and customer service experience, ground operations for all airports. As part of the plan, services to Auckland, Brisbane, [[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]], and Ho Chi Minh City were suspended effective after the last scheduled flights of October 2012. Flights to Kuching were suspended after the last scheduled flight of July 2012. The airline leased two additional Airbus A320s in 2013, together with five [[Boeing 787]]s, to strengthen and revitalise its regional network, and international routes respectively. The first of the five Boeing 787s, with registration number V8-DLA, was delivered on 4 October 2013. All of its Boeing 787 aircraft are powered by the [[Rolls-Royce Trent|Rolls-Royce Trent 1000]] engines. On 18 October 2013, the Bandar Seri Begawan to Singapore service was used as the 787's inaugural flight. Flights to London Heathrow via Dubai using the 787s started on 2 December 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RB 787 Dreamliner's maiden flight |url=http://BorneoBulletin.Brunei-Online.com/index.php/2013/10/19/dreamliners-maiden-flight-to-singapore/ |website=BorneoBulletin.Brunei-Online.com |publisher=[[Borneo Bulletin]] |date=19 October 2013|access-date=11 November 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111133751/http://borneobulletin.brunei-online.com/index.php/2013/10/19/dreamliners-maiden-flight-to-singapore/|archive-date=11 November 2013}}</ref>

[[File:V8-RBD@PKX (20191027152814).jpg|thumb|left|A Royal Brunei [[Airbus A320neo]] in the Brunei Tourism livery]]

On 6 November 2013, Royal Brunei Airlines outlined plans to offer a '100% Dreamliner service' on all of its long-haul routes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=100% RB Dreamliner service |url=http://BorneoBulletin.Brunei-Online.com/index.php/2013/11/07/rb-outlines-plans-for-100pc-b787-dreamliner-service-on-long-haul-flights/ |website=BorneoBulletin.Brunei-Online.com |publisher=[[Borneo Bulletin]] |date=7 November 2013|access-date=11 November 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111133607/http://borneobulletin.brunei-online.com/index.php/2013/11/07/rb-outlines-plans-for-100pc-b787-dreamliner-service-on-long-haul-flights/|archive-date=11 November 2013}}</ref> The airline at that time considered southern India for its next airline expansion. RB, which operated four Airbus A320s and two Airbus A319s as of November 2013, also planned to expand its short-haul aircraft fleet to 'double digits'. The airline looked at plans to purchase current-generation Boeing 737s or Airbus A320s. These short-haul aircraft might also be used on flights to Australia, as part of its future expansion plan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Royal Brunei's future airline expansion |url=http://www.BruDirect.com/national/national/national-headlines/10174-rb-eyeing-southern-india-with-short-haul-jets |website=BruDirect.com |date=7 November 2013|access-date=11 November 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111131130/http://www.brudirect.com/national/national/natioal-headlines/10174-rb-eyeing-southern-india-with-short-haul-jets|archive-date=11 November 2013}}</ref> RB resumed flights to [[Bali]] four times a week, starting July 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.FlyRoyalBrunei.com/australia/2014/04/17/royal-brunei-airlines-returns-to-the-island-of-bali/ |title=Royal Brunei Airlines returns to the island of Bali |website=FlyRoyalBrunei.com |publisher=Royal Brunei Airlines |date=17 April 2014|access-date=6 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506075402/http://www.flyroyalbrunei.com/australia/2014/04/17/royal-brunei-airlines-returns-to-the-island-of-bali/|archive-date=6 May 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Effective 17 October 2014, RB resumed flights to Ho Chi Minh City four times a week, as it looked to use the destination to connect with key regional and international markets.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.BT.com.bn/business-national/2014/07/26/flag-carrier-flying-ho-chi-minh-oct-17 |title=Flag carrier flying to Ho Chi Minh from Oct 17 |website=BT.com.bn |publisher=[[The Brunei Times]] |date=26 July 2014|access-date=24 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923200023/http://www.bt.com.bn/business-national/2014/07/26/flag-carrier-flying-ho-chi-minh-oct-17|archive-date=23 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The airline leased two new Airbus A320 aircraft which were delivered in September and November 2015, eventually to replace the two Airbus A319 aircraft. This indicated the start of the programme to modernise the narrow-body fleet, with up to ten Airbus A320s to be delivered from the end of 2017.<ref>{{cite journal |title=In brief: Royal Brunei Airlines plans to lease two new Airbus A320s |page=17 |journal=[[Airliner World]] |date=January 2015}}</ref> RB's first A320-neo was delivered on the 28 May 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BjUE954gOj-/?igsh=MWJ3cG1uM3NyeWhzMg== |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref>

The CEO from 2011 to March 2016 was Dermot Mannion. In March 2016, Dermot Mannion finished his five-year term and was replaced by Karam Chand. On 6 January 2021, Captain Haji Khalidkhan Haji Asmakhan was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer for Royal Brunei Airlines<ref name=CEO-Asmakhan>{{Cite web |title=Royal Brunei replaces Chand, appoints new CEO |url=https://AviationWeek.com/air-transport/airlines-lessors/royal-brunei-replaces-chand-appoints-new-ceo |website=AviationWeek.com |publisher=[[Aviation Week Network]] |date=11 January 2021|access-date=14 January 2021}}</ref> and retired the position on 10 October 2021. On 1 November 2022, Captain Sabirin Hj Abd Hamid was appointed as the current Chief Executive Officer for Royal Brunei Airlines. Prior to the appointment he was the Acting CEO for 13 months and the Chief Operation Officer since 6 January 2021. <ref>{{Cite web |last=najibahk |date=2022-12-02 |title=New Chief Executive Officer - Brunei {{!}} Royal Brunei Airlines |url=https://www.flyroyalbrunei.com/brunei/en/announcement-of-royal-brunei-airlines-new-chief-executive-officer/ |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=Brunei |language=en-US}}</ref>