[By Guancha Observer Network, Deng Jun, Edited by Zhao Qiankun]
On April 28th, Brunei Airlines (referred to as "Brunei Air") held a ceremony at Beijing Daxing International Airport to celebrate the official resumption of flights on the Beijing-Seria route. This is the first resumption of the route since it was suspended in October 2024. On the same night, the first flight carried more than 130 passengers from Beijing Daxing to the capital of Brunei, Seria.
According to Brunei Air, the resumption of the Beijing Daxing-Seria route plans to operate two weekly flights using an Airbus A320neo aircraft.
The specific flight schedules are as follows: BI624 departs from Beijing Daxing Airport (IATA code PKX) at 00:30 every Tuesday and Friday, arriving at Brunei International Airport (IATA code BWN) at 06:00; BI623 departs from Seria at 02:00 every Monday and Thursday, arriving at Beijing at 07:25.
Scene of the official resumption of the Beijing-Seria route celebration ceremony, Guancha Observer Network.
Previously, on February 6, 2025, China and Brunei issued a joint statement deepening their strategic partnership and promoting the construction of a Chinese-Brunei community with a shared future. The joint statement pointed out that China and Brunei will continue to strengthen investment and trade cooperation, encouraging enterprises of both countries to carry out investments and business exchanges to achieve mutual benefits and promote economic growth. Both sides will further strengthen strategic alignment, deepen high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, reinforce economic partnerships, make full use of platforms such as the Guangxi-Brunei Economic Corridor, and enhance high-quality investment cooperation levels in key areas such as food, downstream oil and gas industries, tourism, services, information and communication technology, etc.
On March 6, 2025, the Immigration Department of Brunei Darussalam announced that starting March 8, Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports would enjoy a 14-day visa-free treatment. According to this, Brunei has become another Southeast Asian country to implement reciprocal visa exemption with China, following Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Ambassador of Brunei to China, Amir Rahmani, stated that Brunei possesses abundant natural and cultural heritage and unique tourist attractions, such as tropical rainforests and water sightseeing projects. Brunei is actively developing tourism products to create competitive tourist destinations.
In order to attract more Chinese tourists, Brunei plans to launch more tourism promotion activities, strengthen exchanges with Chinese counterparts in travel agencies, carry out exchange programs for students, and promote bilateral tourism cooperation.
On the evening of April 28th, the Guancha Observer Network reporter saw at Beijing Daxing Airport that some Chinese tourists participating in tour groups and independent travelers boarded the inaugural flight to travel to Brunei. The tour leader of China Youth Travel Service told the Guancha Observer Network that before the direct flight route of Brunei Airlines resumed, traveling from Beijing to Brunei required a layover, with the entire journey lasting over 10 hours. After the resumption, the flight time between Beijing Daxing Airport and Brunei International Airport has been shortened to five and a half hours, greatly facilitating Chinese tourists' travels.
Chang Hua Liu, Chief Commercial Officer of Brunei Royal Airlines, told the Guancha Observer Network that they have great confidence in the Chinese market. They have already opened direct flights from Shanghai, Nanning, and Hangzhou to the capital of Brunei, Seria. Now, the resumption of the direct flight route between the capitals of both countries will significantly enhance the convenience of business travelers, students, and tourists, further deepening economic ties between the two countries. Moreover, Brunei offers tropical rainforest scenery and charming history, providing Chinese tourists who seek tranquility, nature, unique cultural experiences, and fresh air with an ecotourism destination.
To ensure the long-term stable operation of the route, Brunei Airlines will continue to maintain close collaboration with key partners in both countries, including tourism bureaus, government agencies, and tourism service providers. Through code-sharing cooperation with China Eastern Airlines, passengers on this route of Brunei Airlines can conveniently transfer via Beijing Daxing Airport to reach various cities across China.
This article is an exclusive contribution from the Guancha Observer Network and cannot be reproduced without permission.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7498966372966302227/
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