Vietnamese carrier Bamboo Airways has withdrawn from its long-haul markets, including Australia, as it looks to restructure operations in late 2023 and early 2024.
The move is part of an overall plan to focus more on key domestic routes incorporating Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, as well as popular international services within Southeast Asia.
In a statement, Bamboo Airways said the pivot would improve “commercial efficiency by reducing the frequency of a number of inefficient routes with low passenger demand while increasing operation on routes recording high demand”.
On Bamboo Airways’ website, all flights between Australia and Vietnam are blocked from 1 November 2023. Its last available flights depart Sydney on 25 October and Melbourne on 26 October.
“Bamboo Airways has taken significant steps to enhance its customer care policy and extended its support to its network of domestic and foreign partners and agents, all aiming to safeguard the best interests of every party involved,” the carrier stated.
“Affected passengers will be promptly notified and assisted in adherence to the airline’s policies and applicable laws”.
The airline says the adjustments will ultimately “enhance the company’s competitiveness, capacity and autonomy”, thereby attracting “high-quality resources and strategic investors”.
No more wide-bodies
With regards to its fleet, the airline says it is “negotiating with partners to redesign the appropriate structure and size… prioritising economy, standardising aircraft configuration, reducing fuel consumption”.
The carrier added it continues to work closely with Boeing and Airbus to implement existing aircraft purchase agreements.
“These efforts aim to prepare for the fleet increase from 2024 onwards,” it stated.
Most significantly, the restructuring will see the Hanoi-based carrier drop its long-haul fleet of Boeing 787s, which it used to fly to Sydney, Melbourne and London, among other ports, in favour of more narrow-body aircraft.
Aussie staff lose jobs
As a consequence of its exit from Australia, local staff will be laid off.
“It is with a heavy heart that I advise all Bamboo Airways Australia staff have been made redundant including my National Sales Manager role,” former Bamboo Airways representative Brad Crawford announced on LinkedIn.
“The past two years were amazing … Our agents/partners have consistently filled our aircraft each month and attended educational trips, we thank you for your great support.”
Vietnamese travel rising
Bamboo Airways remains optimistic about its future, hailing the restructure as a “crucial opportunity to grow” in line with aviation in Vietnam more broadly, which by most accounts is booming.
Bamboo Airways’ inaugural flight from Melbourne to Hanoi, the first direct connection between the two cities, took off in May 2022. Flights to Sydney also launched last year.
In June this year, even Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was lauding the rise in Australia-Vietnam travel.
Bamboo says its progress will align with the expected opening of the T3 Passenger Terminal at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in 2025 and the Long Thanh International Airport in 2026.
