Bamboo Airways to Cease Boeing 787 Operations and Focus on Narrowbody Fleet

Bamboo Airways, the Vietnamese carrier, is reportedly set to discontinue its B787-9 operations and halt flights to various long-haul destinations as part of its restructuring efforts. The airline revealed a new strategy on October 21, emphasizing a focus on narrowbody aircraft operations, particularly on domestic routes, domestic leisure destinations, and limited Southeast Asia international operations.

While Bamboo Airways did not explicitly address the cessation of B787 operations, several reports suggest the discontinuation of flights, with B787 services no longer available for booking. The airline currently operates two B787-9s, both leased from CALC, and has ten B787-9s on order. One B787-9 was returned to AerCap earlier this month.

The airline’s statement mentioned active discussions and negotiations with partners to redesign its structure, working closely with Boeing and Airbus to implement previously agreed-upon aircraft purchase agreements. Bamboo Airways aims to prepare for fleet expansion from 2024 onwards. The restructuring involves optimizing route networks by reducing frequency on low-demand routes and enhancing operations on high-demand routes to improve overall network performance.

The move to discontinue B787 operations comes amid challenges faced by the airline and a broader restructuring effort. Bamboo Airways leases its entire 29-strong fleet, including Airbus narrowbodies from various lessors. Notably, three A320-200Ns placed at the airline by CBD Aviation are currently subject to court proceedings in Singapore. The lessors allege breaches of operating lease agreements by Bamboo Airways.

The airline’s strategic shift marks a pivotal opportunity for growth and realignment, with the aim of achieving commercial efficiency and operational optimization in the coming years. The decision aligns with Bamboo Airways’ efforts to navigate the volatile aviation industry in Vietnam.

Note: The information provided is based on reports and publicly available sources as of the knowledge cutoff date in January 2022. For the latest updates, please refer to current news sources.