The inaugural flight to Tawau from Bandar Seri Begawan was launched by Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) at approximately 18:35 P.M with 15 passengers on Tuesday. It is the first direct air connection from Tawau to the world outside.
 
Among them were the Tourism Board (STB), Noredah Othman, representing Deputy Chief Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liev; Deputy Minister of CEO Jimmy Wong, Louis Du Plessi, Senior Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Malaysian Airports, Sdn Bhd (MASB).
 
Christina said in her speech that the new route would be a major added to the eastern coast of Sabah with Sandakan first and Tawau now.
 
She noted that RB's link with other Asian countries has increased in recent years by increasing one-stop and improving London to Brunei flight.
 
"Hopefully, Royal Brunei will also take into consideration the Sandakan and Tawau sectors as an optional free stop in Kota Kinabalu for any London purchase to Melbourne or vice-versa.
 
"We have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with RBA for a joint partnership on UK advertising and we can include this new route from Brunei to Tawau in the campaign as well," she said.
 
She also pointed out that Tawau also has unique attractions such as Tawau Park, which includes one of the world's largest tropical trees, the Columnar Basalt, which is 27000 years old, in the village of balung Cocos, and the so-called Lost World, in the Maliau Bassin.
 
"We organized the first Tawau Hills Park Tropical Hills Run in September that welcomed more than 200 runners, including Indonesians and six Kenyans.
 
In the meantime, Louis said that RB is very pleased to present Tawau as its newest addition to six flights a week using our business partners Malindo Air with our brand new ATR 72–600.
 
"This is another significant and exciting phase in our mission of promoting travel in and beyond Borneo.
 
"With 18 weekly flights from Brunei International Airport and six more recently weekly Sandakan, Sabah is already one of the most popular destinations for our country," he said. He said.
 
RB Link flights provide guests with complete services, such as a small snack and drink service (for one-hour flights) and a 15 kg checked luggage allowance, and international fare rules for guest connection.
 
With a 43-inch seating area and 6 choice seats, the aircraft is able to accommodate 72 economical class seats, for 4 preference places. 
 
RB connections to Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Sandakan, Bintulu, Tawau, and Sibu and Balikpapan will soon be working.