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FLC Group launches Bamboo Airways
After four years of preparations the FLC Group held a ceremony to officially launch Bamboo Airways on August 19. This is a major milestone for Bamboo Airways on its path towards connecting regions and contributing to making Vietnam an increasingly attractive destination on the international tourism map.
The ceremony was attended by Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Uong Chu Luu and leaders of central ministries and departments and more than 40 cities and provinces nationwide.
Mr. Luu told the ceremony that Bamboo Airways is expected to work with other airlines to help develop the local economy and better connect Vietnam’s regions and the country and the world, contributing to the implementation of a number of important tasks in Resolution No. 08-NQ/TW from the Politburo on turning tourism into a spearhead economic sector. “Bamboo Airways provides a new option for a new experience in Vietnam, with quality services and reasonable prices,” he added. “This is a milestone event not only for the FLC Group but also for Vietnam’s aviation sector.”
Mr. Trinh Van Quyet, Chairman of the FLC Group, told the ceremony that in the process of developing large-scale tourism resorts throughout Vietnam, the Group recognized the need for connections between cities and provinces by air and the need to open connecting flights with international flights, helping to boost economic and social development. “FLC therefore planned to develop a new airline on a large scale,” he said. “This is the first Vietnamese carrier to operate on a hybrid model, combining the flexibility of a traditional airline with reasonable cost, to provide a service that addresses the diverse needs of every customer segment.”
The government recently permitted the establishment of Bamboo Airways, in accordance with a request from the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and consensus among other relevant ministries.
The FLC Group and Bamboo Airways signed an agreement with Airbus to purchase 24 A321neo aircraft in March, in the presence of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, and will also purchase 20 Boeing B787-9 Dreamliner aircraft from Boeing in a deal witnessed by Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue in June, to prepare for take-off in October.
Established in 2017, Bamboo Airways has charter capital of VND700 billion ($31.1 million) and is a pioneer in the hybrid model. Passengers will be offered the same facilities as traditional airlines at only a slightly higher cost than on budget carriers.
In its first year of operations, Bamboo Airways is expected to operate eight to ten routes to priority domestic destinations such as Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Thanh Hoa, Quy Nhon, and Nha Trang.
In subsequent years it will add international routes to Japan, South Korea, China, Thailand, Hong Kong and Taiwan and by 2023 will open long-haul routes to the US, Europe and Africa.