A new carrier is set to take to the skies in Vietnam! Bamboo Airways has just been granted its airline operator’s license and is now permitted to start flying scheduled operations! In a statement from the Transport Ministry of Vietnam, Bamboo is set to fly its first 100 routes, including destinations like Hanoi, Vinh, and Dong Hoi. According to Bamboo Airways, they are striving to be the “middle” between flag carriers such as Vietnam Airways, and between budget airlines such Vietjet. The Transport Ministry also claims that the airline will “reduce pressure on aviation infrastructure, strengthen regional links, and promote Vietnamese tourism”.
The airline currently is in-line to buy 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, valued at $5.6 Billion dollars. The airline is also is committed to purchase 24 Airbus A321neo aircraft, that order is valued at $3.2 Billion dollars.
However, some critics say that the business model of Bamboo Airways is insufficient to operate the airline. Claiming that it is “outdated in a world where travellers simply book holiday vacations online”. The company who started Bamboo, FLC Construction, already has a stake in the Vietnamese tourism market, owning several beachside resorts, country clubs and golf courses. The airline has planned to sell packages to tourists including hotels and flights.
But as it stands now, the airline is set to launch its inaugural flight by the end of 2018.
