Vietnamese carriers ramp up hiring, route expansion as travel demand surges

Notably, some carriers have begun recruiting overseas to build a multinational cabin crew team.

Budget carrier Vietjet recently held its first-ever international flight attendant recruitment fair in Osaka, Japan, drawing over 100 applications from candidates from Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and several other countries.

The event marked the start of Vietjet’s global hiring campaign, with Japan chosen as the first destination.

According to the airline, similar events will be held in other countries in the coming months as part of its goal to develop a multinational, globally integrated flight attendant team.

A Vietjet flight attendant told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the move reflects the airline’s plan to expand routes to Japan, adding that passengers may soon see local Japanese crew members on flights to and from the country.

At home, Vietjet is also actively recruiting in Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Hanoi through the end of 2025 to meet staffing demands ahead of its Tet holiday flight expansion.

Meanwhile, Bamboo Airways, under new management by Vietnam’s property developer FLC Group, has made sweeping changes this month, including moving its headquarters back to Hanoi and announcing plans to hire up to 500 flight attendants.

Bamboo requires candidates to be under 25 years old, 1.60-1.82 meters tall, with a high school diploma or higher and a minimum TOEIC score of 500 or equivalent. Applicants proficient in Korean or Japanese will be prioritized.

The carrier has also launched promotional packages combining flights and accommodations, branded as ‘Fly with Bamboo - Stay at FLC,' offering round-trip tickets from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to Quy Nhon and three days, two nights at FLC resorts for VND2.9-4 million (US$110-152) per person.

A Bamboo Airways representative said this recruitment and expansion phase is part of the airline’s 2026-30 growth strategy, which aims to increase fleet size, enhance service quality, and improve passenger experiences.

Bamboo currently operates eight aircraft and is negotiating to lease two to three more for the upcoming Tet 2026 holiday, due in February.

The airline has already opened ticket sales for Tet, planning to boost flight capacity by 16 percent and resume high-demand routes such as Ho Chi Minh City-Vinh and Ho Chi Minh City-Thanh Hoa.

At the same time, Vietravel Airlines and Sun PhuQuoc Airways are moving aggressively to capture market share.

In October, Vietravel Airlines successfully conducted its first charter flight connecting Hanoi and China’s Huangshan, signaling its expansion into the international market. 

The airline plans to continue charter operations before transitioning to regular commercial flights.

Newcomer Sun PhuQuoc Airways, an airline brand developed by leading Vietnamese conglomerate Sun Group, will officially open ticket sales on October 15 for its inaugural commercial operation period from November 1, 2025 to March 28, 2026.

The airline’s launch campaign offers passengers Sun World entertainment vouchers and WOW Passes worth up to VND1 million ($38), along with a 10-percent Sunday discount.

Operating with three aircraft, Sun PhuQuoc Airways focuses on domestic routes connecting key tourism and economic hubs, following a tourism-aviation integration model aligned with Sun Group’s resort network.

Aviation analysts said the simultaneous hiring and expansion efforts across multiple carriers signal a revitalized and highly competitive Vietnamese aviation market.

With Sun PhuQuoc Airways’ debut, Bamboo Airways’ comeback, and Vietjet’s international recruitment campaign, the Tet 2026 travel season is expected to be busier than ever, offering more choices and promotions to Vietnamese passengers.