Bamboo Airways changes its business model and retires its Boeing 787-9 fleet

Bamboo Airways will decomission its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet as part of a long-term restructuring plan. The Vietnamese company announced that it is working to achieve higher efficiency standards to gain greater competitiveness, capacity, and autonomy.

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In mid-October, the company unexpectedly suspended services to London, and in November, it will cancel all long-distance services to Frankfurt, Melbourne, and Sydney. Furthermore, Bamboo Airways has already returned an Airbus A320neo, five A321neo, a Boeing 787-9, and an Embraer E190 to lessors.

Bamboo Airways’ restructuring plan includes incorporating new single-aisle aircraft that better suit the company’s needs. These aircraft will be deployed on Vietnam’s main domestic routes, with a strong focus on services between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang. The airline will also provide regional services in Southeast Asia.

In 2022, Bamboo Airways reported losses of 17.6 trillion dongs, equivalent to 722 million dollars. The airline holds a 17% market share.

Regarding its fleet, the airline has significantly reduced the number of aircraft it owns, negotiating the return of Boeing 787-9s to leasing companies in the short term. At the same time, they are actively seeking new agreements to add Boeing or Airbus single-aisle aircraft.

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Bamboo Airways has an outstanding order for ten Boeing 787-10s, which is being negotiated directly with the American manufacturer. The airline is looking to reach an agreement with Boeing to cancel that order.

The current fleet of Bamboo Airways includes:

• 6 Airbus A320neo
• 4 Airbus A321ceo
• 1 Airbus A321neo
• 2 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
• 4 Embraer E190