Vietnamese start-up airline Bamboo Airways has been awarded an air operator certificiate (AOC) from the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam – paving the way for its inaugural flight to take-off later this month.
The carrier is owned by the FLC Group and it will operate 37 routes connecting major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with each other and with tourist hotspots in Vietnam such as Quyi Nhơn and Dong Hoi.
Bamboo Airways is also set to launch route to international destinations, firstly within Asia to Japan, Korea and Singapore but is also targeting services to Europe.
Last summer, it penned a deal with Boeing for 20 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft and in March 2018 it also signed with Airbus for up to 24 A320neo aircraft.
The launch of Bamboo Airways has been delayed as it was earmarked for take-off at the end of 2018, but the date was pushed back in order to gain an AOC.
Bamboo Airways general director, Dang Tat Thang said the AOC certification is the result of four years of effort by all employees and he is confident is an “important first step” for to serve passengers and devote themselves to Vietnam’s aviation industry.
Vietnam’s aviation market is one of the fastest growing in the world with the likes of low-cost carrier Vietjet and Vietnam Airlines continuing to expand their networks and fleets. Last year, the market grew at a double-digit rate.
