HÀ NỘI — FLC Group plans to open 40 local and international routes after its carrier, Bamboo Airways, becomes operational, said Đặng Tất Thắng, general director of the airline.

He made the announcement at the inauguration ceremony of the brand in Hà Nội last week. He said the airline was planning its routes while waiting for approval of its licence.

FLC plans to serve 24 domestic and 16 international routes.

In Việt Nam, the airline will connect tourism complexes, such as Thanh Hóa-Quy Nhơn, Thanh Hóa-Phú Quốc, Thanh Hóa-Nha Trang and Hải Phòng-Quy Nhơn.

In the international market, Bamboo Airways will cover Japan, South Korea, China, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Philippines. It also plans to open flights to the US and Europe in the longterm.

The airline’s logo will be a stylised symbol of bamboo leaves and stems.

“For us, the bamboo tree symbolises the Vietnamese people’s desire to fly high, improving the country’s image in the international arena,” Thắng said.

The logo was designed by Japanese LIFT Strategic Design Company, which has designed the logos of many global airline brands, including China Airlines, Philippines Airlines, Oasis HongKong and Orbis International.

Thắng estimates the number of Bamboo Airways’ aircraft to reach over 200 by 2020 and 400 by 2030.

Last month, FLC Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus to buy up to 24 A321neo aircraft for Bamboo Airways.

FLC said it targeted a modest growth, making up three to five per cent of market share in the country’s aviation sector. It aimed to bring benefits to customers in terms of service quality and ticket fares.

Bamboo Airways will be a hybrid airline - a combination of traditional and budget airlines to meet the demands of every segment.

In May last year, FLC Group announced the decision of its management board to establish the Việt Bamboo Airways Company, with a charter capital of VNĐ700 billion (US$31.4 million). — VNS