Vietnamese start-up Bamboo Airways has set 16 January as its launch date, one week after gaining its air operator's certificate (AOC) from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), and sticking to its previous announcement of a mid-January launch.
In a statement, the carrier states it will operate on a hybrid business model, offering economy and business class cabins on its aircraft. Flights will operate out of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to various domestic points in Vietnam. Subsequently, it is looking to operate international services.
Prior to obtaining its AOC from the CAAV, the airline was also approved as an aircraft maintenance organisation, it adds.
Bamboo's own booking engine indicates that the initial flights will be operated out of Hanoi to seven domestic points. For flights out of Ho Chi Minh City, it will be linked to Hanoi and Quy Nhon.
Flight Fleets Analyzer shows that five Airbus A320 family jets – one A319 and four A320s – will see leases start with the carrier on 15 January 2019. The lease of another A320 will commence on 25 January.
Two A320s and the A319 are managed by Standard Chartered. Dragon Aviation Leasing manages one of the remaining A320s, and Aviation Capital Group another A320. The last A320 is managed by Lithuania’s Small Planet Airlines.
None of the six jets has received a Vietnamese registration. The A319 is equipped with 128 seats in a two-class configuration, with eight in business class and 120 in economy. Three of the A320s have 180 seats in an all-economy configuration. The remaining two A320s have 159 seats in an all-economy configuration.
In addition, three on-order A320neos managed by CDB Aviation are scheduled to start their leases in October 2019.
The airline also has letters of intent for 24 A321neos and 20 Boeing 787-9s.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
