Bamboo Airways (QH, Hanoi Noi Bai International) is preparing to restructure its 30-strong fleet, with the financially embattled airline telling local media and Reuters that it will begin the process in October to increase efficiencies and optimise operating costs.
"The restructuring process aims to stabilise Bamboo Airways' operations and further growth opportunities" as well as "increase the uniformity of aircraft types in the long run," it told the news agency.
The ch-aviation fleets module reveals that Bamboo's 30 aircraft are all leased and sourced from 10 lessors, specifically:
- one A321-200N, two A321-200NX, and one B787-9 supplied by AerCap;
- three A321-200s supplied by Aergo Capital;
- one A320-200N and three A321-200Ns supplied by Aviation Capital Group;
- one A320-200 supplied by Avolon;
- two A320-200Ns supplied by BOC Aviation;
- two B787-9s supplied by CALC;
- three A320-200Ns and five ERJ 190-100LRs supplied by CDB Aviation;
- four A320-200s supplied by FTAI Aviation;
- one A321-200 supplied by Fuyo General Lease; and
- one A320-200 supplied by Genesis Aircraft Services.
Bamboo Airways confirmed to Reuters that it had already renegotiated a "cooperation agreement" with at least one lessor. It did not say how many aircraft or lessors would be affected by the decision, but it did say it was looking to streamline the types of aircraft it flies - currently seven of them. ch-aviation has contacted Bamboo Airways for comment.
The fleet restructuring decision follows Bamboo posting a VND17.6 trillion dong (USD740 million) loss for calendar 2022, ownership changes, board upheavals, and speculation the airline would file for bankruptcy. While the current chief executive has admitted the carrier faces difficulties, he insists that the board and management are committed to working through the challenges and putting Bamboo back onto a sound financial and operating footing. It currently flies to 31 destinations within Viet Nam and ten other countries - Thailand, Germany, China, the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Macao, and Singapore.
