Bamboo Airways, a Vietnamese airline founded in 2017, is undergoing significant changes. The airline has decided to cut all its long-haul flights, including those to Frankfurt, London, Sydney, and Melbourne. This move is part of a broader long-term restructuring plan aimed at making the airline more competitive and efficient.
According to a statement on the Bamboo Airways website, the airline is focusing on “long-term restructuring to rebuild the airline more efficiently and streamlined to enhance the company’s competitiveness, capacity, and autonomy.” The airline plans to retire its Boeing 787 fleet, which has been operating these long-haul routes. Instead, Bamboo Airways will focus on key domestic routes and short international routes to Southeast Asia using single-aisle jets. The airline aims to improve its commercial efficiency by reducing the frequency of routes with low passenger demand and increasing operation on routes with high demand.
What’s Next for Bamboo Airways?
The airline currently has a fleet of around 29 aircraft, including two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The rest of the fleet consists of Airbus A320 family aircraft and Embraer E190s, which are better suited for the shorter routes that Bamboo Airways plans to focus on. The airline has also made commitments for new aircraft with Airbus and Boeing. Specifically, they have booked ten 787-9 Dreamliners with Boeing. Bamboo Airways is working closely with both Airbus and Boeing to implement these previously agreed-upon aircraft purchase agreements. These efforts are part of the airline’s proactive preparation for a fleet increase starting in 2024.
Impact on Passengers and Staff
The airline has also laid off all its local staff in Australia. In Australia, Bamboo Airways was offering twice-weekly flights from Sydney and three times weekly flights from Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh City. The airline has stated that “affected passengers will be promptly notified and assisted in adherence to the airline’s policies and applicable laws.”
Bamboo Airways is undergoing a significant shift by cutting all its long-haul flights and focusing on shorter, more profitable routes. This change is part of a broader restructuring plan aimed at making the airline more competitive and efficient.
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