Vietnamese carrier Bamboo Airways is set to take its first Boeing 787-9 aircraft during December, which will make it Vietnam’s second widebody operator after Vietnam Airlines.

Vietnamese carrier Bamboo Airways is set to take its first Boeing 787-9 aircraft during December, which will make it Vietnam’s second widebody operator after Vietnam Airlines.

The aircraft will initially be deployed on high volume domestic routes such as Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi-Da Nang, says the airline in a statement.

Longer term, the airline plans to use the type to open regional and intercontinental destinations.

bamboo 787-9

Artist impression of Bamboo’s incoming 787-9

Bamboo Airways

In October, it said that it was taking two examples of the type from GECAS on operating leases. GECAS subsequently confirmed that the two aircraft would be transferred to the carrier from an existing lessee.

GECAS manages six 787-9s. Three are with Air Canada, two are with HNA unit Suparna Airlines, and one is with Hainan Airlines.

In addition, Bamboo has 10 firm orders for additional 787-9s and aims to conduct sale-and-leasebacks for these aircraft. It also has letters of intent for 20 more examples.