Brunei International Airport (BIA) (Malay: Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Brunei; Jawi: لاڤڠن تربڠ انتارابڠسا بروني ) (IATA: BWN, ICAO: WBSB) is the primary and only airport in the sovereign nation 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 (RBAF) is also based at the Rimba Airbase, which is located within the airport's environs. The airport serves international destinations across Asia and Oceania, as well as flights to the Middle East and London Heathrow.[4]

Brunei International Airport لاڤڠن تربڠ انتارابڠسا بروني Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Brunei
Brunei International Airport (BIA) passenger terminal
IATA: BWN ICAO: WBSB
Summary
Airport type	Public and military
Owner	Government of Brunei
Operator	Department of Civil Aviation
Serves	Brunei Darussalam
Location	Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei-Muara District, Brunei Darussalam
Opened	1974; 48 years ago (1974)
Hub for	Royal Brunei Airlines
Time zone	Brunei Darussalam Time (BNT) (UTC+08:00)
Elevation AMSL	22 m / 73 ft
Coordinates	4°56′39″N 114°55′42″E
Website	Brunei Int'l Airport (archived)
Maps
Brunei-Muara District in Brunei Darussalam
BWN/WBSB Location in Brunei Darussalam Show map of Brunei BWN/WBSB BWN/WBSB (Borneo) Show map of Borneo BWN/WBSB BWN/WBSB (Southeast Asia) Show map of Southeast Asia BWN/WBSB BWN/WBSB (Asia) Show map of Asia
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 03/21 3,685[1] 12,090 asphalt
Source: DAFIF[2][3]

History

Commercial air transport in Brunei began in 1953, with the establishment of air service links connecting Brunei Town (present-day Bandar Seri Begawan) with Anduki 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.

The growth in popularity of air travel in the 1970s resulted in a significant increase in civil aviation. Suddenly, the old airport was swamped with activity, operating beyond its capacity. This situation prompted the government to scout for a new site to build a modern airport. A new airport was constructed 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,[1] and its runway was one of the longest runways in the far east.

In 2008, it was announced that a study to review necessary expansions and modifications was completed, and a masterplan was written up soon after.[5] The masterplan consists of different phases, and Phase 1, which includes upgrading the existing passenger terminal building and the cargo terminal, is targeted to be completed by end of 2013.[5] 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 by end of 2014. After Phase 1 is completed, Phase 2 could be initiated in 2022, which includes the construction of a new terminal, which will be able to accommodate up to eight million passengers.[5] Currently, the runway is being upgraded to allow bigger aircraft such as Airbus A380 and Boeing 747 to land easily.

Facilities

Brunei International Airport consists of an international terminal which can handle up to two million passengers, a cargo terminal with a capacity of 50,000 tonnes of cargo, and a royal terminal where the sultan's flights are based. In 2005, Brunei International Airport handled 1.3 million passengers.[6] Inside the international terminal, there are 40 check-in counters, 12 emigration counters, and 14 immigration clearance counters.[1] Concessionary traders inside the terminal include Burger King and KFC international fast-food outlets,[7] Jollibee regional fast food,[7] plus local 'concept stores' which include food, tea and coffee drinks, and jewellery stores, along with Avis car rental desk.[1] It also includes a VIP Lounge for business travellers.[1] Brunei International Airport has car parking space for 1,440 cars, with a further 300 covered parking spaces.[1]

Other facilities at BIA include a post office, bank, the Department of Civil Aviation (located within the air traffic control tower building), and the Brunei International Airport Mosque.

Access

The airport is located approximately 10 minutes from the centre of the capital. Along with personal car rental options, there are regular taxi services to and from the airport, with a journey time of approximately 15 minutes.[8] There are also regular public bus services which go around the capital, taking approximately 30 minutes.[8] In 2009^[update], taxi fares range from BND$10.00 to BND$20.00, and the bus fare was BND$2.00 (requiring exact fare only, as no change will be given).[8]

Airlines and destinations

Accidents and incidents

• On Saturday 6 September 1997, a brand new Dornier 228-212 (registration: 9M-MIA, MSN: 8217), operated by Royal Brunei Airlines (but owned by Merpati Intan of Malaysia), departed from Brunei International Airport on a scheduled flight bound for Miri Airport (MYY/WBGR), Malaysia.[16] Operating under flight number BI238, the aircraft took off from Brunei International Airport at Bandar Seri Begawan at local time 19:03, with ten bodies aboard (two crew, eight passengers). On approach to Miri, the crew requested permission to land, and were cleared for final approach on Miri runway 02. No reply from BI238 was received. The following morning at 07:10 local time, the wreckage of the Dornier (9M-MIA) was found; it had struck treetops, slammed midway into the slope of Lambir Hill at 500 metres (1,600 feet), 13.7 kilometres (8.5 miles) south of Miri Airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed, and all ten souls onboard died.[16] Subsequent investigation determined the cause of the incident be classified as 'Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain'.[16]

See also

• List of airports in Brunei
• Transport in Brunei

References

External links

Media related to Brunei International Airport at Wikimedia Commons

• Experience Brunei International Airport (BIA) — official website from Civil-Aviation.gov.bn (via Archive.org)
• Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications, Brunei Darussalam
• Department of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications, Brunei Darussalam
• SkyVector aviation chart for Brunei International Airport
• SkyVector IFR chart for Brunei International Airport
• Brunei International Airport (BWN/WBSB) live flight arrivals and departures — from FlightRadar24.com
• Brunei International Airport (BWN/WBSB) live map — from FlightRadar24.com
• Current weather for WBSB at NOAA/NWS
• Accident history for BWN at Aviation Safety Network

На других языках

[de] Flughafen Brunei International

[es] Aeropuerto Internacional de Brunéi

[fr] Aéroport international de Bandar Seri Begawan

[ru] Бруней (аэропорт)