Bamboo Airways, a new hybrid airline based in Vietnam, will operate its first flight on January 16, according to the carrier.
The airline, Vietnam’s fifth, started selling tickets from 12 p.m. on January 12, with minimum ticket prices at VND149,000 (US$6.40) each, reported VNA.
The carrier is now integrating multiple payment gateways which are familiar to customers, such as National Payment Corporation of Vietnam or NAPAS, VNPay, and the mobile app of Military Bank, into its website, company vice president Duong Thi Mai Hoa said.
Bamboo Airways will provide a wide range of tickets, namely, Bamboo Eco, Bamboo Plus, and Bamboo Business. Customers can also buy tickets at Bamboo’s 1,000 agents nationwide.
Additionally, check-in procedures will be able to run via mobile phone, QR Code, or check-in kiosks at the airport during the second quarter.
Bamboo Airways received its license to transport passengers, mail, and freight following those of national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, budget operators Jetstar Pacific Airlines and Vietjet Air, and Vietnam Air Service.
Its maiden launch was moved from the original schedule of October 10 last year due to operating licensing issues.
Bamboo Airways is part of the Viet Bamboo Airlines Company based in Quy Nhon in Binh Dinh province. Owned by property developer FLC Group, Viet Bamboo Airlines Company was established in 2017 with a charter capital of about $31.4 million.
According to the Bamboo Airways website, the carrier was officially launched on August 19, 2018 after four years of preparations. A month earlier, on July 9, the Vietnamese government officially allowed the establishment of the carrier.
Before that, FLC and Bamboo Airways signed a contract to purchase 24 A321NEO aircraft with Airbus in France in March 2018, and inked a contract to purchase 20 Boeing B787-9 Dreamliner aircraft with Boeing in the United States in June 2018.
FLC earlier 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 group has also invested in infrastructure for aviation operations, such as upgrading Phu Cat Airport in Quy Nhon City and improving the roads connecting the airport to the Nhon Hoi Economic Zone.
As planned, the carrier will operate 37 routes connecting major cities and tourist destinations at home and abroad in 2019.
The first domestic routes will be Hanoi-Quy Nhon, Hanoi-Dong Hoi, Ho Chi Minh City-Quy Nhon, Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City, and Ho Chi Minh City-Van Don. Up to 60 domestic flights per day are planned.
Flights to Asia and Europe such as Japan, Korea, and Singapore will use wide-body aircraft.
The airline has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Civil Authority of Vietnam on using landing services and security checks at Tan Son Nhat (HCM City), Noi Bai (Hanoi), Phu Cat (Quy Nhon), Dong Hoi (Quang Binh), Tho Xuan (Thanh Hoa), and Cat Bi (Hai Phong) airports.
Photo courtesy of Bamboo Airways
