The first Bamboo Airways commercial flight took off at 6.00am on Wednesday.

The launching ceremony of the airline’s first commercial flight.

“This is the first commercial flight, and that is extremely important and meaningful for Bamboo Airways,” said Mr Dang Tat Thang, Bamboo Airways’ General Manager.

“The airline is expected to provide domestic and international customers with a new experience, good service quality and reasonable prices. We will bring our customers the services of a hospitable and friendly airline", he added.

The carrier will operate 37 routes connecting major cities and tourist destinations at home and abroad in 2019. The first domestic routes will be Ha Noi to Quy Nhon, Ha Noi to Dong Hoi, HCM City to Quy Nhơn, Ha Noi to HCM City, and HCM City to Van Don.

Up to 60 domestic flights per day are planned, Mr Thang said. Flights to Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea and Singapore, and Europe will use wide-body aircrafts. The airline has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Civil Authority of Viet Nam to use the landing services and security checks at Tan Son Nhat (HCM City), Noi Bai (Ha Noi), Phu Cat (Quy Nhơn), Dong Hoi (Quang Binh), Tho Xuan (Thanh Hoa), and Cat Bi (Hai Phong) airports.

Bamboo Airways received a licence to transport passengers, mail and freight. It is Viet Nam’s fourth aviation carrier along side Vietnam Airlines, budget operators Jetstar Pacific and Vietjet Air, and Viet Nam Air Service (VASCO). The airline started selling tickets from 12pm on January 12, with prices starting at VND149,000 (US$6.4) each.

Bamboo Airways is part of the Viet Bamboo Airlines Company based in the city of Quy Nhon in Binh Dinh Province. The company, owned by property developer FLC Group, was established in 2017 with the charter capital of VND700 billion ($31.4 million). FLC has positioned Bamboo Airways as a hybrid airline, blending low-cost traits with those of traditional or full-service carriers to meet the demands of every market segment.

The group has also invested in infrastructure to aid aviation operations, such as upgrading Phu Cat Airport in Quy Nhon and roads connecting the airport to the Nhon Hoi Economic Zone.

(Source: VNS/ DA NANG Today)