Vietnam’s Bamboo Airways has begun flight operations with its Embraer E195 aircraft. The aircraft are being wet-leased from Denmark’s Great Dane Airlines. However, they do wear Bamboo Airways’ livery.
Since its launch last year, Bamboo Airways has been making waves within the Vietnamese aviation industry. Before the current situation, the airline has been building up its domestic network. Earlier this year, the planned launch of European flights was forced to be delayed by the current circumstances affecting the aviation industry. However, this didn’t stop the airline from operating a series of repatriation flights between Vietnam and Europe.
Two E195s in operation
Recently we saw that Bamboo Airways had taken delivery of two Embraer E195 aircraft. These aircraft had flown over from Denmark as they are being operated under a wet-lease agreement by the Danish Great Dane Airlines. This means that Great Dane is providing the aircraft to Bamboo Airways, including fuel and crew. The plane may wear the Bamboo Airways livery, but Great Dane operates it.
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The first aircraft, registered as OY-GDC, has begun offering flights to Con Dao from both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city. The first flight to the island took place on September 27th from Hanoi. However, this was not any ordinary flight. The Embraer E195 became the first jet-powered aircraft to have ever landed on the island. Previously operations were confined to turboprop aircraft due to the airport’s short runway, light pavement, and lack of fuel provision.
Commenting on the entry into service, Mr. Dang Tat Thang – Executive Vice Chairman of Bamboo Airways, said,
“Bamboo Airways is proud to offer jet-operated flights to Con Dao with the E195s. The aircraft’s short runway performance makes it an ideal aircraft for flights to and from Con Dao. The two by two seating will offer our passengers a high level of comfort in a modern, spacious aircraft, including the one-of-its-kind Business Class on the route to Con Dao.”
Third type in the Bamboo Airways fleet
With the introduction of the Embraer E195 into Bamboo Airways, the Vietnamese carrier is now operating three different families of aircraft, each from a different manufacturer. The airline initially launched operations in January last year with the Airbus A320 family. These aircraft have been managing the airline’s short-haul domestic and regional routes.
Around a year after its launch, the airline began to operate a fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. These widebody aircraft initially remained on flights within Asia. They were due to launch European flights in the spring. However, the current situation threw a spanner in the works. While travel restrictions remain in place, the services don’t look likely. However, while it wasn’t able to launch regularly scheduled flights to Europe, they have been used for repatriation flights to the continent, including to destinations such as London and Frankfurt.
Would you like to fly on Bamboo Airways’ Embraer E195? Let us know what you think and why in the comments!
