Vietnam’s Bamboo Airways shrinks operations, continues limited charter flights

Flight QH9588 departed Da Nang City in central Vietnam for Macau at 12:30 pm on Saturday. It is one of the few flights Bamboo Airways is still operating this month while passengers are largely unable to purchase tickets through its website.

The Da Nang-Macau flights are operated under charter contracts, where a travel company or partner rents the entire aircraft for group travel.

According to the airline's schedule, another charter flight, QH9588, is scheduled to depart Da Nang at 12:30 pm on August 20 and arrive in Macau at 3:20 pm, with the return flight QH9589 set to leave Macau at 4:40 pm and land in Da Nang at 5:35 pm.

After completing the Macau-Da Nang leg, the Airbus A321 registered VN-A227 will be used for flight QH146 scheduled to leave Da Nang at 6:35 pm and arrive in Hanoi at 8:00 pm the same day.

This is expected to be the aircraft's final rotation in the Da Nang-Macau charter series before it is scheduled to stop operating from August 22.

Since August 1, Bamboo Airways’ website has shown “no flights found” for major domestic routes such as Ho Chi Minh City-Hanoi, Hanoi-Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City-Da Nang, while other Vietnamese airlines continue to sell tickets normally.

The “no flights found” message does not mean Bamboo has ceased flying entirely.

The airline may continue operating charter services under private contracts, although these flights are not listed on its public booking platform.

Bamboo Airways has not announced its operating schedule for August or the following months.

Late on Tuesday, Bamboo Airways acknowledged operational disruptions, apologized to affected passengers, and said refund requests had surged, causing delays in processing.

According to Planespotters data, Bamboo Airways’ fleet currently has three aircraft, including one Airbus A321ceo, one A320neo, and one A320ceo. However, a source familiar with the airline's operations said only one aircraft is currently in use.

Before its restructuring in 2022, Bamboo operated up to 44 aircraft, including Airbus A319, A320 and A321 models, as well as Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.

The fleet has since been significantly downsized as the airline struggled with financial and operational challenges.

In addition to being unable to purchase tickets, passengers reported difficulties contacting Bamboo’s customer service hotline, with long waits or no connection.

Many also complained on social media about delayed refunds and unclear flight schedules.

As per Bamboo Airways' current policy, passengers who purchased tickets through ticket agents or third-party channels must contact the original point of sale.

Tickets purchased directly through the airline's website, mobile app or ticket offices may be refunded in the form of an eVoucher within 7-14 business days.

Passengers requesting cash refunds by email may have to wait up to 90 business days after the airline receives all required documentation.

Several ticket agents said they still have tens of billions of Vietnam dong in ticket deposits held by Bamboo Airways but have yet to receive guidance on how the funds will be handled. They also reported difficulties contacting the airline in recent days. (VND10 billion = US$384,000)

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, Bamboo Airways operated 725 flights in June this year, of which 241 flights, or about 33 percent, were delayed, placing the carrier among the worst-performing domestic airlines for on-time performance.

An Airports Corporation of Vietnam representative said the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam recently chaired a meeting involving Bamboo Airways and other stakeholders to discuss the airline's operations and possible solutions for its outstanding financial obligations.

No agreement was reached, with Bamboo Airways saying it needed more time to resolve its difficulties.

Founded in 2017, Bamboo Airways launched its first commercial flight in 2019. After separating from FLC Group in 2023, the airline returned under FLC’s management in September 2025.