Bamboo Airways to triple fleet size in 6 years

The airline is set to receive its 22nd narrowbody Airbus A321 jet and fourth widebody Boeing B7s87 this quarter, CEO and chairman Dang Tat Thang told shareholders at the recent extraordinary shareholders’ meeting of its parent company FLC.

The airline currently has 29 jets, comprising 21 narrowbody aircraft, three Boeing B787s and five Embraer 190 regional aircraft, according to aviation data website Planespotters.

Its competitors Vietnam Airlines operates 99 aircraft, and Vietjet 77.

Thang became the new chairman of Bamboo Airways and FLC in March to replace Trinh Van Quyet who was arrested for alleged stock manipulation.

The airline saw revenues rising 150 percent between the first and second quarter this year as travel resumed, Thang said.

Bamboo Airways now operates nearly 200 flights a day on 60 domestic routes and 12 international routes, he added.

It has recently increased pilot wages by 20 percent, he said.

While FLC is set to experience a complete restructure this year, it will continue to expand Bamboo Airways’ operation both domestically and internationally, with the aim of making it a five-star airline of global standard, Thang said.

“To achieve this goal, Bamboo Airways needs many new investors to increase its capital.”