It looks like Vietnam’s most ambitious airline will be launching long haul flights this spring.

What is Bamboo Airways?

Bamboo Airways is a privately owned Vietnamese airline that took delivery of their first Boeing 787-9 in late 2019.

The airline was founded in 2017, but has huge growth aspirations. Up until about a moth ago the airline had fewer than 20 planes in their fleet. Now they’re expanding significantly, as they take delivery of 30 Boeing 787-9s and 50 Airbus A321neos.

Bamboo Airways 787-9

The airline plans to use the 787-9s to fly to Europe and North America. Heck, the airline has had some pretty bizarre ways they’ve considered growing. In June 2019, Bamboo Airways’ CEO said that the company was considering leasing A380s so they could fly nonstop between Vietnam and the US as of early 2020. That’s a market that’s questionable with the 787, let alone the A380.

Bamboo Airways to launch Prague flights

While it doesn’t come as much of a surprise, we now have more details of what the first long haul route is expected to be for the airline.

Bamboo Airways intends to operate nonstop flights between Hanoi and Prague as of April 2020.

This might seem random on the surface, though the way the airline sees it:

• The Czech Republic has a large Vietnamese population, of around 70,000 people
• 100,000 people per year already fly between Vietnam and the Czech Republic
• There’s increasing trade between the two countries

While the new flight isn’t yet on sale and exact details haven’t been provided (the frequencies, timing, etc.), the company claims to be making final preparations. Just a few months notice (at most) doesn’t seem like ideal advance notice for a first long haul route, but I guess it’s also logical they’d want to launch by the summer travel season.

The airline expects to have four 787-9s by the end of January 2020, as they’re currently just using these planes for domestic flights within Vietnam.

Bamboo Airways’ 787-9s

Bamboo Airways’ 787-9s are really nice-looking, with reverse herringbone seats in business class.

Bamboo Airways business class

Bamboo Airways business class

Bamboo Airways business class

When the airline first took delivery of the 787-9 it was believed that these planes would also feature first class. However, as it turns out, their first few 787s won’t have first class, while the ones delivered later on allegedly will.

I’m still curious what their first class will look like, since pictures and details haven’t been revealed, other than that there will be four seats.

Bottom line

I’m excited to have another long haul airline I can try. Bamboo Airways’ goals sure are ambitious, and while it looks like they have a good product, I’m not sure I totally get the business case for this.

Vietnam is a low yield, leisure destination, so I’m not sure I totally get where the money is in all of this…

Source OneMileAtATime