Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has agreed in principle thegranting of an air transportation business licence to Bamboo Airways of VietBamboo Airlines Company, owned by property developer FLC Group.

The decision was made at a meeting of permanentGovernment members on November 8, according to Minister-Chairman of the GovernmentOffice Mai Tien Dung.

The PM assigned the Ministry of Transport (MoT) to consider, assess and grant the licence to the airline, he said, adding that the ministry collected opinionsfrom 10 ministries and agencies on the licensing of the carrier and receivedtheir consensus.

Earlier, the MoT submitteda document asking the PM to consider the licencing of Bamboo Airways as itreceived an application from the company which met requirements of capital,ensured the availability of aircraft, the organisational structure, businessplans and product development strategy.

The ministry also highly valued the orientation of the airline in developing routesserving tourism development by connecting areas in the country as well aswith big cities and other countries in the region.

The MoT said the target would create new products and markets, enhancingcompetitiveness in the aviation market while providing more choice tocustomers. In addition, it would be suitable for the aviation planning approved bythe PM.

Bamboo Airways received a decision to approve the investment policy in principlefrom the Government back in July. But now the decision has been made officially.

“With the Government’s approval, all final stages of the airline’s first flightscheduled for the end of the fourth quarter this year are completed,” said DangTat Thang, Bamboo Airways General Director.

The first Airbus A319, A320 aircraft are being completed by Bamboo Airways inTurkey and the Philippines, ready to be available in Vietnam. Test flight alsoshowed that the planes fully met technical specifications, ready to go intooperation.

It was expected that Bamboo Airways would bring some 20 aircraft this year and20-30 in 2019 to serve its operation plan. The new planes from its 8.8billion USD contract signed with Airbus and Boeing would be delivered in 2020.

The company planned to exploit around 100 routes connecting all big cities andfamous tourism destinations in Vietnam and the world. The first domesticflights would be Hanoi-Quy Nhon, Hanoi-Dong Hoi, HCM City-Quy Nhon, Hanoi-HCMCity, HCM City-Van Don with an aim to reduce pressure for aviationinfrastructure in big cities while enhancing regional connection to improveVietnam’s tourism image in the world.-VNA