The Transport sector which includes air, land and sea in Brunei Darussalam has experienced uncertainty in the last ten years due to several external and internal factors, especially with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in the decline of almost all sectors under transportation. The Air Transport sector recorded a positive and encouraging development trend, before the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic hit globally in 2020.
Based on statistics from the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications, the total number of scheduled flights was 21 thousand 8 hundred 50 and non-scheduled flights were 8 thousand 1 hundred 58. Scheduled flights, from 2012 to 2019 show a positive growth trend with an average of 13 thousand 3 hundred 96 flights per year.
The year 2019 recorded the highest number of 17 thousand 3 hundred 23. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the average scheduled flights dropped to more than 3 thousand flights each year. The amount experienced a drastic decrease of 70 percent in 2020 and followed by 61 percent in 2021 compared to the previous year.
The total number of non-scheduled flights includes chartered flights carrying, either cargo or passengers. The statistics of non-scheduled flights for the period 2012 – 2021 recorded the number remaining below the limit of one thousand flights with an average of 7 hundred 6 flights per year.
Overall, the movement of passengers through Brunei International Airport from 2012 to 2019 shows a consistent trend. The year 2019 was a benchmark for the progress of the aviation sector in the country. Inbound, outbound and transit passenger movements show the highest numbers of the year.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic caused an 81 percent decrease in passengers in 2020 and the number continued to decrease in 2021. Since the opening of the border on the 1st of August 2022, the trend for passenger movement shows an increase of 55 percent until 31st of December 2022. On average, the growth rate of passenger movement in the country is 5 point 5 percent every year from 2015 to 2019. According to the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications, if based on the double rate every year, the number of passenger movements is expected to return to the level of 2019 in 2026.
Source: Radio Television Brunei