Bamboo Airways continues trimming domestic flight network, fleet

Bamboo Airways has announced partial or full suspension of air connections to more domestic destinations from April as the Vietnamese private carrier undergoes its largest reshuffle since its first commercial flight in January 2019.

The affected routes will be from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao, off the coast of the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, and the central province of Thua Thien Hue; and from Hanoi to Dong Hoi, the capital of the central province of Quang Binh.

The announcement came after the carrier reached an agreement to terminate early a lease contract for three Brazil-made Embraer E190 jets from the end of March.

Following this move, Bamboo Airways’ fleet will consist of just eight narrow-body A320/321 jets from April. It will expand to 12-15 planes by the end of this year if financial and market conditions permit.

This is not the first time Bamboo Airways has downsized its domestic services. Since late last year, it has reduced the frequency or stopped operating some routes like Hanoi/HCMC-Phu Quoc and Hanoi-Ca Mau.

It also ended all international links on Boeing B787-9 planes in November 2023.

The airline is focusing on operating services on the North-South axis between Hanoi and HCMC, and between Hanoi/HCMC and Danang and other localities with high travel demand.

Bamboo Airways has been going through major leadership changes ever since its chairman Trinh Van Quyet was arrested in March 2022 for stock market manipulation and fraud.

Earlier this month, Phan Dinh Tue, former Sacombank deputy CEO, was appointed its chairman, replacing Le Thai Sam. In January, Luong Hoai Nam, former executive of Pacific Airlines and Air Mekong, was chosen for the CEO post, the third such change in five months.

The government has asked multiple agencies to help the airline overcome its hardships and successfully restructure its operations.