General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and U.S. President Donald Trump witnessed Bamboo Airways’ deal signing ceremony for 10 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners

Bamboo Airways has signed a deal with Boeing Co to purchase 10 wide-body 787-9 Dreamliners worth nearly USD3 billion on the sidelines of the second U.S.-DPRK Summit from February 27 – 28.

The signing ceremony is held in the morning as of February 27 at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi under the witness of Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong, and U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the historical summit of U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

30 wide-body Boeing jets will be added to Bamboo Airways’ fleet from 2020

Last year, in June 2018, Bamboo Airways, wholly owned by multi-sector company FLC Group, signed a deal for 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliners worth USD 5.6 billion in the U.S.

That means Bamboo Airways will have 30 wide-body Boeing 787 Dreamliners, in which the first ones are set to arrive in the Quarter 3 of 2020.

“The 787 Dreamliner’s unmatched efficiency, range and flexibility make it the perfect airplane for Bamboo Airways to achieve its long-range ambitions”, said Kevin McAllister, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

He also added that the new deal will strengthen the partnership of Boeing and Bamboo Airways, so Boeing looks forward to help Bamboo Airways connect Vietnam with key markets in Asia, Europe, North America and beyond.

Beside the new deal, in the morning as of February 27, Bamboo Airways and Boeing reached an agreement on the expansion of orders in the near future.

Accordingly, Bamboo Airways has considered buying 25 narrow-body Boeing 737 MAX planes worth estimated USD2.5 billion at list prices. Further details of the contract will be announced after both parties have reached a final agreement.

A good aide of Vietnam – U.S direct flight route

Bamboo Airways plans to launch flights to the United States from late 2019 or early 2020. FLC Group already set up a representative office in the U.S. in 2018 to prepare for human resource, legal force, and other supporting factors.

The carrier is implementing the plan after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration granted the Category 1 (CAT) to Vietnam on February 15.

“Vietnam and the U.S. economic and trade relations have seen rapid expansion. Non-stop air routes between the two countries are of essence accordingly. Direct flights between Vietnam and the U.S. will not only push tourism activities which are aimed to draw nearly one million American tourists by 2020, but also further facilitate bilateral trade and investment”, said Trinh Van Quyet, FLC Group’s Chairman.

“The deal to add more 10 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and the plan to buy 25 narrow-body 737 MAXs enable Bamboo Airways to increase operational efficiency and competitiveness on the potential yet challenging air routes”, said Dang Tat Thang, CEO of Bamboo Airways.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX are the most advanced and safest variants of Boeing, in which 787 Dreamliner allows airlines to fly long ranges while reducing fuel costs by more than 20 percent compared to previous wide-body jets.

At 63 meters (206 feet), the 787-9 can fly 290 passengers, in a typical two-class configuration, up to 7,635 nautical miles (14,140 km).

Considered “a 5-star hotel in the air”, it is also one in a few most advanced wide-body airliners that can satisfy demands of international long-haul flights to the fullest, especially Vietnam – the U.S. non-stop flight with 13 hour lasting.

737 MAX is a narrow-body jet, designed and manufactured in four different length versions, making it relevant to fly 138 – 210  passengers, worth estimated USD100 million per plane.

Play a part in Vietnam – U.S. balance of trade

Bamboo Airways is currently Boeing Co’s major client with two deals worth USD8.6 billion, inclusive of the deal for 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliner signed in 2018.

According to the statistics, the U.S. recorded around USD34.7 billion trade deficit with Vietnam. Thanks to Bamboo Airways’ two deals signed in 2018-2019, the deficit is likely to decrease by nearly 25 percent.

These ongoing deals are expected to help in the balance of trade and proactively impact on the diplomatic relations between the two countries as the U.S. President said: “They (Vietnam) just made a very large order in the United States – and we appreciate that – for many billions of dollars, which means jobs for the United States and great, great equipment for Vietnam”.

Boeing Co is not the only aircraft manufacturer that Bamboo Airways is partnering.

Earlier, in March 2018, Bamboo Airways signed a deal for 24 Airbus A321 NEO worth USD3.2 billion, witnessed by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President of the National Assembly of France François de Rugy.

Highlighting a widely acclaimed new generation fleet and a unique hybrid airline model, Bamboo Airways aims to become the topped hybrid carrier in Vietnam and the region, targeted at 5-star service.

Followed by entering the first commercial service on January 16, Bamboo Airways has been launching 1,000 flights with maximum safety and carrying about 90,000 air passengers.

With 20 air routes deployed in the Quarter 1 of 2019, linking Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi with key destinations such as Nha Trang, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Thanh Hoa, Can Tho, Da Lat, Pleiku, Vinh, Quang Ninh, and so forth, Bamboo Airways is nearing the plan of 37 – 40 air routes in 2019 and expanding its footprints across Vietnam.

Furthermore, Bamboo Airways is well-prepared for commencing services to foreign countries and territories in Asia, Europe, Australia in the Quarter 2 of 2019, in which Thailand, China, South Korea, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, England, France, Australia, etc. are expected to be the first destinations.

For further information, please contact:

Marketing and Communications Division – FLC Group

Ms. Quach Thi Ha

Email: [email protected]

Mobile: 0983 043 346 

Marketing and Communications Division – Bamboo Airways

Ms. Doan Thanh Huong

Email: [email protected]

Mobile: 0904 631133