| Azlan Othman |
THE inadequate facilities at Royal Brunei Airlines Cabin Crew room came under royal scrutiny yesterday, along with other facilities at the Brunei International Airport terminal, which will undergo the process of modernisation.
Expressing concern on the facilities, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam said that he would be returning in six months to see refurbishment of the area, which is currently under construction.
Commenting on His Majesty’s concerns, Minister of Communications Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdullah bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar said that the area of concern is part of the old airport used by the Royal Brunei Airlines crew members for briefings prior to their assignments on board the aircraft.
“That room is inadequate and we need to improve the area for safety purposes, and even for operational efficiency,” said the minister.
The minister added that Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) is a long-term tenant, and the Department of Civil Aviation, the landlord.
“We got to find out how best we can do in a win-win situation. Passenger’s comfort, safety and security came into mind during the royal visit yesterday, and I am sure all the agencies concerned will set together to tackle after this,” he said.
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam with Chief Operating Officer Captain Khalidkhan bin Haji Asmakhan in the cockpit of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner prior to take off
The monarch tours the Immigration control post at the Brunei International Airport. – PHOTOS: DEAN KASSIM
Meanwhile, Dermot Mannion, the Deputy Chairman of RB, said that there were still areas of the airport building that have yet to be built. Most of the passenger contact areas at the departure and arrival have been completed, but there are other offices that will be finished in six months.
When asked on His Majesty’s view on the new RB 787 Dreamliner, on which the ruler himself flew for about 40 minutes, Mannion answered that it was a great honour to have His Majesty on board the RB 787 Dreamliner for the first time.
“Based on our understanding, the monarch is very impressed with this very nice and new aircraft, and based on the passenger feedback we received from Royal Brunei Airlines customers everywhere we fly, the feedback is very strong.”
“Of course, we have very good customers these days, very good cabin crew and all-in-all, it is a very good product for the airline and the people of Brunei to be proud of,” he said.
His Majesty’s visit began at the Surau of the Brunei International Airport, where the monarch performed two Sunnat prayers before proceeding to the departure hall to view the shops, ticketing offices, restaurants and customer service centres.
His Majesty also witnessed the application of a machine-readable passport (MRP), and then toured the departure lounge.
The ruler was greeted upon arrival by the Minister of Communications, Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Dato Paduka Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, who is also the Chairman of the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB), Deputy Minister of Finance Dato Paduka Awang Haji Bahrin bin Abdullah who is also the Chairman of Royal Brunei Airlines and other senior government officers.
The monarch later boarded the 787 Dreamliner aircraft, and was introduced to the facilities available by Mannion, including the reclining business class seat. His Majesty took to the cockpit and flew the aircraft along with the minister, permanent secretaries and senior officers from the Department of Civil Aviation and from Royal Brunei Airlines.
Captain Sharifah Czarena Suriany binti Syed Hashim of RB said, “I feel so honoured and privileged to have His Majesty personally asking to have me sit in the flight deck. To be on the same aircraft with His Majesty is one thing, but to be in the same flight deck with the ruler is an experience I will never forget.”
She added, “We might only have been at 5,000 feet above sea level, but being in the flight deck with His Majesty, I was over the moon.”
His Majesty ended his visit with a tour at the arrival hall, and was briefed on screenings at baggage handling site by Customs and police personnel.
The modernisation of the facilities within the Brunei International Airport Terminal is to create a new customer experience within the public areas, including a new departure check-in hall, a departure security and immigration hall, a departure satellite lounge, an arrival immigration hall, an arrival baggage reclaim hall, and an airport arrival hall.
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