27 February, 2019:Bamboo Airways, an airline owned by the Vietnamese holding company FLC Group has ordered for ten 787-9 Dreamliners valued at $3 billion from Boeing.
The signing ceremony which was held at Hanoi was witnessed by US President Donald Trump and General Secretary and President of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong.
"We are excited to be adding the new 787 Dreamliner to our growing fleet," said Trinh Van Quyet, Chairman of FLC Group and owner of Bamboo Airways. "Our long-term vision is to connect Vietnam with key markets in Asia, Europe and North America and the Dreamliner will enable us to launch these long-haul operations. The 787's superior operating economics and efficiency, as well as the passenger-pleasing interior of the Dreamliner, will allow us to successfully grow our business while enabling us to better serve our customers."
Bamboo Airways was founded in 2017 and began commercial operations in January by offering flights linking the capital of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with cities in Vietnam.
The airline plans on launching international services to South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand and Australia before expanding to other destinations in Asia, Europe, and North America. They also plan to offer up to 40 domestic routes this year.
"The 787 Dreamliner's unmatched efficiency, range and flexibility make it the perfect airplane for Bamboo Airways to achieve its long-range ambitions. We are excited to advance the partnership between Boeing and Bamboo Airways and we look forward to helping them connect Asia with Europe, North America and beyond," said Kevin McAllister, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
The 787 Dreamliner family will enable the airline to fly long ranges and reduce fuel costs by more than 20 per cent compared to previous widebody jets.