Bamboo Airways, once a burgeoning airline in Vietnam, has made headlines by returning its Airbus A320neo aircraft, registered as VN-A596, after nearly seven years of service. This decision comes as the airline's fleet has dwindled to just one operational aircraft, a stark contrast to its previous capacity of over 40 planes.

The Airbus A320neo, which first took flight on October 23, 2019, was delivered to Bamboo Airways on October 30, 2019, after a series of test flights. The aircraft made its inaugural journey from Toulouse, France, through Baku, Azerbaijan, to Ho Chi Minh City, marking a significant milestone as it was the first A320neo introduced in Vietnam.

Initially part of a larger order placed with Airbus in 2018, the aircraft was leased from CDB Aviation. However, it ceased operations at the end of July 2026 and was subsequently stored at Noi Bai Airport before being returned to the leasing company, now registered as VQ-CDF and located at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Jakarta, Indonesia.

As of now, Bamboo Airways operates only one aircraft, an Airbus A321-200 registered as VN-A227, which is approximately 13.5 years old. The airline's operational challenges have raised questions about its future, especially after being taken over by FLC Group in September 2025. Although some domestic routes between Hanoi and Da Nang, as well as Quy Nhon, have been reinstated, the scale of operations remains limited.

Financial pressures are also mounting, with overdue tax liabilities exceeding 440 billion VND. Reports suggest that Bamboo Airways is preparing to resume regular commercial flights by mid-Q3 2026 as part of its recovery and restructuring efforts. This move to restore some domestic routes is seen as a crucial step towards revitalizing its operational network following a period of contraction.