Brunei International Airport
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy datesTemplate:Use British English Template:Infobox airport Brunei International Airport (BIA) (Template:Langx, Jawi: لاڤڠن تربڠ انتارابڠسا بروني ) Template:Airport codes is the primary international airport and official airport of entry; one of two airports in the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam, on the island of Borneo.
Located near Bandar Seri Begawan in the Brunei-Muara District, it serves as the home base and hub for Royal Brunei Airlines (RB). Additionally, the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) is also headquartered at Royal Brunei Air Force Base, Rimba, which is located opposite the Template:Convert main runway on the north-western side, within the aerodrome's environs. Brunei International Airport serves international destinations across Asia and Oceania, as well as flights to the Middle East and London Heathrow.<ref name=RO-RB-LHR>Template:Cite web</ref>
History
Foundation and early years
Commercial air transport in Brunei Darussalam began in 1953, with the establishment of air service links connecting Brunei Town (present-day Bandar Seri Begawan and capital city of Brunei) with Anduki (near the oil town of Seria) in the Belait District. Initial flights linking Brunei to British Malaya, North Borneo, Sarawak, Singapore, and overseas destinations were primarily provided by Borneo Airways and Malayan Airways. Airport services were operated from the Berakas area at an old runway site built by the Japanese during World War II. It was known then as Brunei Airport.Template:Cn
The growth in popularity of air travel in the 1970s resulted in a significant increase in civil aviation. Suddenly, the old airport at Berakas was swamped with activity, operating beyond its capacity. This situation prompted the government to scout for a new site to build a modern international airport. The construction of a new airport began in Template:Start date and age, in Mukim Berakas in the Brunei-Muara District, because this location was easily accessible from all areas of the country. The airport became operational in 1974,<ref name=DCA-booklet/> and its runway was one of the longest runways in the far east.Template:Cn
In tandem with these developments, Royal Brunei Airlines, initially known as Royal Brunei, took flight on Template:Start date and age, utilising the newly constructed Brunei International Airport as its hub. Founded on 18 November 1974, the airline marked its inception as a significant milestone in the burgeoning era of Brunei's aviation history.Template:Cn
Development since the 2000s
In 2008, it was announced that a study to review necessary expansions and modifications was completed, and a masterplan was written up soon after.<ref name=BruDirect>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=CPGCorp>Template:Cite web</ref> The masterplan consisted of different phases, and Phase 1, which included upgrading the existing air-conditioned passenger terminal building and the cargo terminal, was targeted to be completed by end of 2013.<ref name=CPGCorp/>
Phase 1A was already completed on 1 October 2013, with the opening of the new arrival hall. The capacity of the airport was to be increased to three million passengers by end of 2014. After Phase 1 was completed, Phase 2 was planned be initiated in 2022; this included the construction of a new terminal, which will be able to accommodate up to eight million passengers.<ref name=CPGCorp/> Currently,Template:When the runway is being upgraded to allow bigger aircraft such as Airbus A380 and Boeing 747 to operate more easily.Template:Citation needed
Facilities
Capacity
Brunei International Airport consists of an international terminal which can handle up to three million passengers, a cargo terminal with a capacity of Template:Convert of cargo, and a royal terminal where the sultan's flights are based. In 2005, Brunei International Airport handled 1.3 million passengers.<ref name=BruDirect/>
Terminal
Inside the international terminal, there are 40 check-in counters, 12 emigration counters, and 14 immigration clearance counters.<ref name=DCA-booklet/> Businesses inside the terminal include Burger King and KFC international fast-food outlets,<ref name=FRB-AG>Template:Cite web</ref> Jollibee regional fast food,<ref name=FRB-AG/> plus local 'concept stores' which include food, tea and coffee drinks, and jewellery stores, along with Avis car rental desk.<ref name=DCA-booklet/> It also includes a VIP Lounge for business travellers.<ref name=DCA-booklet/> Brunei International Airport has car parking space for 1,440 cars, with a further 300 covered parking spaces.<ref name=DCA-booklet/> Other facilities at BIA include a post office, bank, the Department of Civil Aviation (Brunei) (located within the air traffic control tower building), and the Brunei International Airport Mosque.Template:Cn
Airlines and destinations
The following airlines operate regular scheduled services at Brunei International Airport:
Template:Airport destination list
Ground transport
Brunei International Airport is located approximately 8km from the centre of the capital.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Along with personal car rental options, there are regular taxi services to and from the airport, with a journey time of approximately 15 minutes.<ref name=Civ>Template:Cite web</ref> There are also regular public bus services which go around the capital, taking approximately 30 minutes.<ref name=Civ/>
See also
References
External links
Template:Commons category inline
- Department of Civil Aviation
- SkyVector aviation chart for Brunei International Airport
- SkyVector IFR chart for Brunei International Airport
- Template:NWS-current
- Template:ASN
Template:Portalbar Template:Airports in Brunei Template:Bandar Seri Begawan landmarks Template:Authority control