Journalist – Aaron is an aviation and travel journalist with 14 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. His background spans airport operations, aviation infrastructure, and travel consulting, having worked with global organizations across New Zealand, Europe, and North America. Combining industry expertise with firsthand travel experience across more than 52 countries and five continents, Aaron covers airlines, airports, aviation policy, and the wider travel sector. He is based in Canterbury, New Zealand. His work has been published in Simple Flying and featured by MSN, SAM CHUI Aviation & Travel, EIN News, Pakistan Defence, and Climate Depot.
The end could be near for Vietnam’s Bamboo Airways, which has stopped selling commercial flights. Checking the carrier’s website, the airline has stopped selling tickets for individual bookings for August and will operate limited charter flights this month. Since August 1, the website has shown “no flights found” on all major domestic routes and is reportedly using only one of its three aircraft.
Charter flights to destinations such as Macau International Airport (MFM) are still scheduled for a select number of dates this month, but beyond that the airline’s future looks uncertain. This comes as the airline was looking to revive a memorandum of understanding to acquire the Boeing 787 and 737 MAX through a lease.
Shrinking Bamboo Airways Fleet From Eight To Three Aircraft
According to Airways Magazine, the airline has significantly reduced its fleet, dropping five aircraft and remaining with just three. Only one of these planes remains operational, with VN-A227, an Airbus A321-200, servicing the few remaining flights. Looking at the remaining flights, the last scheduled service is on August 22.
For Bamboo, it appears that its charter operations are the only flights that remain viable, with flights between Da Nang International Airport (DAD) and Macau operated through a travel company and partner rents, which take liability for filling all the seats on the plane. Charter flights are popular between Vietnam and Macau as they provide direct group travel options for those looking for coastal hotspots in Da Nang, while also providing nonstop flights to Macau, which is a popular destination for entertainment and gaming.
While it remains unclear what Bamboo’s future looks like, it is important to note that the airline has not ceased all flights, but it may be that the airline is looking to adjust its operational functions and look at charter flights as a short-term fix until its finances improve.
The Airline Acknowledges Operational Disruptions
According to Tuoitre, Bamboo has apologised to all affected passengers who have had their travel plans disrupted. The airline is currently in the process of making contact with all passengers with future bookings and providing them refunds and alternative options, albeit delayed. Previously, the airline had operated up to 44 aircraft, which included the following variants as per ch-aviation:
While three aircraft remain active in the fleet, two are parked, with the remaining A321, registration VN-A227, flying its significantly reduced operations. This plane is a 13.5-year-old aircraft which first entered service in February 2013 for EVA Air. It was then transferred to Bamboo Airways in March 2023, on a lease from Fuyo General Lease. The plane is configured to carry a total of 192 passengers, including eight in business class, and a further 184 in economy.
Vietnamese carrier Bamboo Airways is abandoning long-haul services and is operating its last flights to Australia in coming days.
A Young Aspiring Airline’s Future Could Be Cut Short
Bamboo was founded back in 2017, and commenced operations on January 16, 2019. It has three operating bases, which include Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi) (HAN), Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City) (SGN), and Quy Nhon Phu Cat (UIH). The airline is classed as a hybrid airline, which means it offers both low-cost flights with extra comfort that is expected from legacy carriers.
Rapidly expanding, the carrier launched several domestic, short-haul and long-haul international flights, including as far as Melbourne Airport (MEL), Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD), Frankfurt Airport (FRA), London Gatwick Airport (LGW), and London Heathrow Airport (LHR). All of these routes are now terminated as the airline scaled back its international operations. Many other international Asian routes were also axed. Domestically, at the airline’s peak, it operated to 20 Vietnamese and 18 international destinations.
While Bamboo’s future remains unclear, it is taking steps to drastically reduce its operations by suspending domestic and international routes. It has dropped the majority of its fleet and is now just operating with one plane. The airline is facing severe financial pressures and is looking at restructuring its business model.
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