Vietnamese start-up Bamboo Airways has committed to an order for 20 Boeing 787-9s, and plans to deploy the aircraft on international routes to Europe and the USA.
The airline, which is wholly owned by conglomerate FLC Group, tells FlightGlobal it plans to launch sales in October and begin service in the fourth quarter of this year. It is on track to attain an air operator's certificate from Vietnamese authorities, says FLC chairman Trinh Van Quyet.
Bamboo has paid deposits for the Boeing order, which was announced in a ceremony in Washington DC today attended by Vietnam deputy prime minister Vuong Dinh Hue.
The aircraft is tentatively scheduled to be delivered from April 2020 through 2021, says Boeing.
Trinh says the airline is working with Boeing to take delivery of the aircraft earlier, as it wants to begin international service in 2019. Potential destinations include Paris and Berlin, which Bamboo plans to serve from Hanoi, says Trinh.
The airline had previously signed a memorandum of understanding for 24 Airbus A321neos, which remains in place, says the carrier.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
