Hanoi (VNA) – TheCivil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) announced on January 8 that it has presentedan Aircraft Operator Certificate (AOC) to Bamboo Airways, allowing the airline tobegin commercial flights.

Accordingly, Bamboo Airways haspassed all important tests during the AOC approval procedure. It has also undergonebasic preparations of personnel and infrastructure for flight operations.

As planned, the carrier willoperate 37 routes connecting major cities and tourist destinations at home andabroad in 2019.

The first domestic routes will beHanoi-Quy Nhon, Hanoi-Dong Hoi, Ho Chi Minh City-Quy Nhon, Hanoi- Ho Chi MinhCity, and Ho Chi Minh City-Van Don. Up to 60 domestic flights per day areplanned.

Flights to Asia and Europe suchas Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore will use wide-body aircraft.

Bamboo Airways of Viet BambooAirlines Co., is owned by property developer FLC Group. The Viet BambooAirlines Co., was established in 2017 with a chartered capital of 700 billionVND (31.4 million USD).

FLC has geared Bamboo Airways asa ‘hybrid’ airline, blending low-cost traits with those of traditional orfull-service carriers. The group has also invested in infrastructure foraviation operations, such as upgrading Phu Cat Airport in Quy Nhon city and keyroads connecting the airport to the Nhon Hoi Economic Zone.–VNA