Royal Brunei Airlines (BI) has signed a code share agreement with Turkish Airlines (TK) which allows for passengers to connect from Bandar Seri Begawan to Istanbul via Dubai (and vice versa) starting from February 22.

The agreement was signed in Antalya, Turkey by Karam Chand, Royal Brunei Airlines’ chief commercial and planning officer; and Dr Ahmet Bolat, Turkish Airlines’ chief investment and technology officer in the presence of Ilyas Rory Teo, the acting head of Network Planning and International Relations at BI and Ozlem Salihoglu, senior VP (International Relations and Alliances) at the Turkish carrier.  

Under the codeshare agreement, Turkish Airlines will add its ‘TK’ code to Royal Brunei Airlines operated flights from Bandar Seri Begawan to Dubai and vice versa.

On a reciprocal basis, Royal Brunei Airlines will add its ‘BI’ code to Turkish Airlines flights from Istanbul to Dubai and vice versa.

Karam Chand said: “Royal Brunei Airlines is delighted with the recent enhancements of the commercial co-operation between both airlines. We are keen to further expand the codeshare arrangements in the future to our mutual benefit.”

Dr Bolat pointed out that the agreement would help Turkish Airlines to sell its offline destination Bandar Seri Begawan via Dubai and improve its partnership to maximise the travel opportunities offered to passengers through the networks of both airlines.

Royal Brunei Airlines currently operates a fleet of ten aircraft comprising, four B787-8 Dreamliners together with six A320 units. It also has one further B787-8 Dreamliner on order and has a firm contract with Airbus for up to ten A320neo aircraft, with deliveries starting in 2017.

Established in 1933 with a fleet of five aircraft, Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines is a 4-star airline today with a fleet of 300 (passenger and cargo) aircraft flying to 284 destinations worldwide with 235 international and 49 domestic.-TradeArabia News Service