Bamboo Airways

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A Vietnamese airline established in 2017 that operates domestic and international passenger services under a hybrid-airline model.

Last updated August 22, 2026

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Overview

Bamboo Airways is a Vietnamese airline established in 2017 and headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City, with a registered base at Phu Cat Airport and major operating hubs at Noi Bai International Airport and Tan Son Nhat International Airport. The carrier was created within the FLC Group, a Vietnamese business group with interests including property development, finance and mining, and was conceived as a hybrid airline combining elements of full-service and low-cost operations. The airline secured regulatory approval during 2018. Vietnam's aviation authorities granted its air operator certificate on 9 July 2018, and the Ministry of Transport issued its aviation license later that year after reviewing its financial structure and operating plan. Bamboo Airways inducted its first aircraft, an Airbus A319-100, in December 2018 and began scheduled operations on 16 January 2019 with an Airbus A320 service linking Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Its early fleet strategy relied heavily on leased aircraft supplied by third-party lessors, while the company also announced substantial future aircraft commitments with Airbus and Boeing. Bamboo initially presented an ambitious growth plan. In 2018 it signed an Airbus memorandum of understanding covering as many as 24 A321neo aircraft and an agreement with Boeing for 20 787-9 Dreamliners. In 2019 it announced a further agreement for 26 A321neo aircraft, bringing the stated Airbus narrow-body commitment to 50 aircraft. The first A320neo joined the fleet in November 2019, followed by the first Boeing 787-9 in December of that year. The introduction of the Dreamliner enabled the airline to pursue longer-range international operations in addition to its domestic network. The airline's development was disrupted by the crisis surrounding FLC Group and its founder. In March 2022, Trịnh Văn Quyết, then chairman of FLC and a leading figure associated with Bamboo Airways, was arrested in connection with alleged stock-market manipulation, fraud and property-appropriation offenses. Other FLC executives were also investigated or arrested. Vietnam's Civil Aviation Authority said it would closely supervise Bamboo Airways to protect operational continuity and passenger interests. Bamboo stated that its flying program continued, but the ownership and financing situation led the airline to seek a strategic investor. From 2022 onward, Bamboo Airways underwent repeated changes in ownership influence, board composition, senior management, route planning and fleet strategy. FLC later reported that its stake had fallen to slightly more than 21 percent, ending its dominant position. In 2023 the airline announced that a new investor group had replaced Trịnh Văn Quyết and FLC's controlling role, and Him Lam Group was publicly identified as the new owner in June. The airline subsequently denied reports that it was seeking bankruptcy protection, while acknowledging the need for financial and operational restructuring. Sacombank was also reported to be considering investment or financial support. The restructuring emphasized cost control and a smaller, more sustainable fleet. In October 2023 Bamboo appointed Lương Hoài Nam as chief executive and signaled that it might reduce or remove its wide-body operation. The airline has also changed its registered office arrangements, completing the transfer of its main offices from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City on 31 March 2024. Its business today is defined less by the rapid fleet and network expansion announced at launch than by efforts to stabilize ownership, finances, management and the route network while maintaining passenger services.

History

Bamboo Airways was founded in Vietnam in 2017 as a project of FLC Group and its founder Trịnh Văn Quyết. The planned carrier was intended to support tourism, regional connectivity and the wider FLC business ecosystem. Rather than adopting a strictly low-cost or traditional full-service model, Bamboo described its intended proposition as a hybrid airline. The company spent 2018 obtaining regulatory approvals and assembling an aircraft plan. In March of that year it signed a memorandum with Airbus for as many as 24 A321neo aircraft. In June, FLC and Boeing announced an agreement for 20 787-9 Dreamliners. Vietnam's prime minister approved the airline's establishment in July 2018, and the Civil Aviation Authority granted its air operator certificate on 9 July. After the carrier completed the required certification stages, the Ministry of Transport issued an aviation license in November. The first aircraft, an Airbus A319-100, arrived in December, followed by an A321neo leased from GECAS. Bamboo Airways began commercial operations on 16 January 2019, initially connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with a leased Airbus A320. During 2019 it expanded its aircraft plans, announcing an agreement for 26 additional A321neos and publicizing a firm order for ten Boeing 787-9 aircraft. The first A320neo entered service in November 2019, and the first 787-9 was delivered in December. These aircraft supported the carrier's intention to develop domestic trunk routes while adding international destinations. Its operating structure centered on Phu Cat Airport as its registered base, with Hanoi's Noi Bai and Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat serving as major hubs. The growth strategy became difficult to sustain after the crisis surrounding FLC Group in 2022. Trịnh Văn Quyết was arrested in March 2022 in connection with alleged stock-market manipulation, fraud and property-appropriation offenses. The investigations also affected other FLC personnel and raised concerns about the airline's financial independence and operational continuity. Vietnam's Civil Aviation Authority announced closer supervision, while Bamboo Airways said that its flight operations continued. The carrier then began searching for a strategic investor and undertook changes intended to reduce its dependence on FLC. Leadership changes followed. Đặng Tất Thắng, who had served as chief executive and became chairman after Quyết's arrest, resigned in July 2022. An extraordinary shareholders meeting in August appointed Nguyễn Ngọc Trọng as chairman. Bamboo later confirmed that a new investor group had replaced the former founder-centered ownership structure. FLC's reported holding fell to slightly above 21 percent, removing its dominant position. In June 2023 Him Lam Group was officially identified as the new owner, although the airline continued to face financial and governance uncertainty. Reports that it had sought bankruptcy protection were denied by the company, and Sacombank was reported as considering investment or assistance. Bamboo's later strategy focused on restructuring rather than rapid expansion. The airline changed chief executives, appointed Lương Hoài Nam in October 2023 and reviewed its fleet, route network and cost base. The company indicated that wide-body aircraft could be removed from the fleet, a significant shift from the original Dreamliner-led international ambitions. The main office moved from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City in March 2024, with the former Hanoi headquarters converted into a representative office. Bamboo Airways remains an active Vietnamese airline, but its current identity is shaped by consolidation, ownership transition and efforts to build a financially sustainable operating model.

2024
Main office moves to Ho Chi Minh City
[1]Bamboo Airwaysen.wikipedia.org
The airline completes the transfer of its main offices from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City on 31 March.
2023
Him Lam Group becomes publicly identified owner
[1]Bamboo Airwaysen.wikipedia.org
Him Lam Group is announced as the new owner during Bamboo Airways' restructuring.
2022
Ownership and governance crisis begins
[1]Bamboo Airwaysen.wikipedia.org
The arrest of FLC chairman Trịnh Văn Quyết leads to regulatory monitoring and a search for strategic investors.
2019
Commercial operations begin
[1]Bamboo Airwaysen.wikipedia.org
Scheduled operations commence on 16 January with an Airbus A320 service between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
2019
A320neo and 787-9 enter the fleet
[1]Bamboo Airwaysen.wikipedia.org
Bamboo receives its first A320neo in November and its first Boeing 787-9 in December.
2018
Airbus and Boeing aircraft agreements announced
[1]Bamboo Airwaysen.wikipedia.org
Bamboo announces major planned acquisitions involving Airbus A321neos and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.
2018
Air operator certificate granted
[1]Bamboo Airwaysen.wikipedia.org
Vietnam's Civil Aviation Authority grants the airline its air operator certificate on 9 July.
2018
First aircraft inducted
[1]Bamboo Airwaysen.wikipedia.org
The carrier receives an Airbus A319-100 and a leased Airbus A321neo during December.
2017
Bamboo Airways is founded
[1]Bamboo Airwaysen.wikipedia.org
The Vietnamese airline is established within the FLC Group business ecosystem.

Products and positioning

A Vietnamese hybrid airline positioned between traditional full-service and low-cost carriers, with an emphasis on domestic connectivity, international expansion and a broad service proposition. Its post-2022 positioning has increasingly centered on operational efficiency and financial sustainability.

Scheduled air transport · 2019
Domestic passenger services
Bamboo Airways serves Vietnam's domestic aviation market, including trunk routes linking Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and connections to regional and tourism-oriented destinations. Domestic operations form the core of the carrier's network and have remained central during its post-2022 restructuring.
Scheduled air transport · 2019
International passenger services
The airline has operated international passenger routes as part of its original expansion plan. Its international ambitions were supported by Airbus narrow-body aircraft and Boeing 787-9 wide-body aircraft, although later restructuring led to a review of the size and role of the wide-body fleet.
Airline service proposition · 2019
Hybrid-airline service model
Bamboo Airways positioned itself as a hybrid airline, combining aspects of conventional full-service aviation with the cost discipline and network flexibility associated with low-cost carriers. The model was intended to provide differentiated passenger service while supporting competitive domestic and international fares.

Controversies

2022
FLC founder arrest and ownership crisis
Trịnh Văn Quyết, founder of Bamboo Airways' former parent group FLC, was arrested in March 2022 over alleged stock-market manipulation, fraud and property-appropriation offenses. The episode prompted closer aviation oversight and accelerated Bamboo's search for a strategic investor.
Source

2024
Transfer of main headquartersStrategy
Background
Bamboo Airways reorganized its corporate footprint during its broader restructuring.
Action taken
The airline completed the transfer of its main offices from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City and retained a representative office presence in Hanoi.
Aftermath
Ho Chi Minh City became the location of the airline's main offices, while the former Hanoi headquarters was repurposed.
Source
2023
Fleet and network restructuringStrategy
Background
The airline needed to reduce operating costs and improve financial and operational sustainability.
Action taken
Bamboo reviewed its route network, fleet composition and management structure, including the possible removal of wide-body aircraft.
Aftermath
The strategy marked a shift away from the original rapid-expansion plan toward a smaller and more efficient operating model.
Source
2022
Search for a strategic investorStrategy
Background
The FLC crisis created uncertainty around ownership, financing and governance.
Action taken
Bamboo Airways sought new investors and began separating its operations and corporate identity from FLC's former dominant influence.
Aftermath
FLC's stake fell to slightly above 21 percent, and Him Lam Group was later identified as the new owner.
Source
2018
Commitment to Airbus A321neo aircraftProduct launch
Background
Bamboo sought a modern narrow-body fleet for domestic growth and planned international routes.
Action taken
The airline signed an Airbus memorandum covering as many as 24 A321neo aircraft and later announced an agreement for 26 additional aircraft.
Aftermath
The stated commitments established the basis for a large Airbus narrow-body expansion, although later restructuring changed the scale and composition of the operating fleet.
Source
2018
Plan to introduce Boeing 787-9 aircraftProduct launch
Background
The carrier planned to combine domestic growth with longer-range international operations.
Action taken
FLC and Boeing announced an agreement involving 20 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, followed by a later publicized firm order for ten aircraft.
Aftermath
The first 787-9 was delivered in December 2019, but subsequent financial restructuring led Bamboo to reconsider its wide-body fleet.
Source

Recent events

2022.02.28
Reported2022.02.28
Bamboo Airways and Sydney Airport sign route-development agreement[3]越竹航空与悉尼机场签署航线发展合作协议zh.vietnamplus.vn
Bamboo Airways and Sydney Airport signed an agreement to develop direct routes between Sydney and Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
2021.12.17
Reported2021.12.17
Bamboo Airways announces planned Vietnam–Australia direct routes[4]越竹宣布计划开通越南至澳大利亚直达航线zh.vietnamplus.vn
Bamboo Airways announced plans to open direct routes from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Melbourne starting in early 2022; the routes had not yet been described as operating.
2021.10.14
Reported2021.10.14
Bamboo Airways launches direct Hanoi–Dien Bien route[5]越竹航空开通河内至奠边直飞航线zh.vietnamplus.vn
Bamboo Airways officially opened its direct round-trip Hanoi–Dien Bien route; its QH1692 flight landed at Dien Bien Phu Airport on the morning of October 14.
2021.01.12
Reported2021.01.13
Bamboo Airways opens routes from Can Tho to Con Dao and Phu Quoc[6]越竹航空开通芹苴至昆岛和富国航线zh.vietnamplus.vn
Bamboo Airways opened new routes from Can Tho to Con Dao and from Can Tho to Phu Quoc, with one flight per day on each route. The airline said flight frequency could be adjusted according to passenger demand.
2020
Reported2020.01.03
Bamboo Airways launches first-class service[7]越竹航空推出头等舱服务zh.vietnamplus.vn
Bamboo Airways began offering first-class service in 2020. Its first-class lounge at Noi Bai International Airport began operating in early 2020.
Unconfirmed
Reported2019.10.23
Bamboo Airways begins its first regular international route[8]Bamboo Airways开通首条定期国际航线e.vnexpress.net
Bamboo Airways began operating direct flights between Da Nang, Vietnam, and Seoul, South Korea, its first regular international route. The airline said it would operate one round-trip flight per day.

Sources10 sources

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