Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai has required relevant ministries and agencies to handle proposals by local air carrier Bamboo Airways to help remove its difficulties.

Deputy PM Khai said the airline had developed its brand, provided high-quality services, and gained customers’ confidence despite being a newly-established air carrier, according to the Government Office’s statement on the deputy prime minister’s conclusions at a meeting to review the airline’s proposals.

However, the air carrier is facing multiple difficulties. It has been in debt to customers and the state budget, the official added.

Therefore, the government asked the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Public Security, the State Bank of Vietnam, and the Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises to help Bamboo Airways overcome these obstacles, and report the results to the prime minister before December 31 this year.

The airline itself has to review and develop a restructuring plan in line with reality.

Deputy PM Khai also assigned Bamboo Airways’ partners, namely Vietnam National Petroleum Group, Airports Corporation of Vietnam, and lenders, including Vietnam Maritime Commercial Joint Stock Bank, Saigon Thuong Tin Commercial Joint Stock Bank, Orient Commercial Joint Stock Bank, and Vietnam - Russia Joint Venture Bank, National Citizen Bank, to give a helping hand to the airline.

He asked the Ministry of Transport to review the airline’s proposal to lease land at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City to develop civil aviation supporting facilities and handle it in line with the law.

In August this year, the Government Office wrote to relevant ministries and agencies, transmitting Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s request to support Bamboo Airways.

The air carrier is operating a fleet of 10 aircraft on 16 domestic air routes.

It plans to add two aircraft to serve passengers during the Lunar New Year holiday, or Tet, in February 2024.

At a recent meeting with the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, a Bamboo Airways leader said hundreds of its pilots and flight attendants were made redundant after it cut two-thirds of its fleet.

The firm set a target to balance revenue and spending from the last quarter of next year but projected a loss of VND1 trillion (US$41 million), news site VnExpress reported.

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