Vietnamese Airlines Reduce Flight Operations Amid Financial Challenges and Low Demand

Several Vietnamese airlines, including Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, Bamboo Airways, Pacific Airlines, Vietravel Airlines, and Vasco, are facing the need to reduce flight frequencies on both domestic and international routes.

While Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet have extensive networks, the other airlines operate on a smaller scale with fewer flights. Bamboo Airways, which previously operated 30 aircraft and planned to expand to 100, has now reduced its fleet to 21 aircraft, operating 114-120 flights per week since the beginning of this month. Vietravel Airlines currently operates three aircraft, down from six last month, as they had to return aircraft to Cambodia Airways. Pacific Airlines has a fleet of 10 aircraft, but two are currently undergoing maintenance.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam’s plan for 2023, the combined fleet size of local carriers is expected to increase from 230 aircraft at the beginning of this year to 250 by the end of the year.

Data from Planespotter, an online database about commercial aviation, shows that Vietnam Airlines Group (including Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, and Vasco) operates 100 aircraft, followed by Vietjet with 80, Bamboo Airways with 21, and Vietravel Airlines with three. Please note that fleet sizes may vary due to aircraft rental agreements.