Bamboo Airways appears to have delayed its entry into Europe. It had initially been planning to launch services to Prague later this month. However, the launch of the route has now been postponed to late April.

A little over a year ago Bamboo Airways launched as a new carrier for Vietnam. Since then, the carrier has been doing well for itself, acquiring Boeing 787 aircraft and launching international routes.

As part of its expansion, Bamboo had been eyeing a long-haul launch to Europe on the 29th of March. However, this has now been pushed back by a month. At the current moment in time, it is unclear what has led to the route's launch being delayed. The airline is also looking to fly to Munich from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi later this year.

What do we know?

Bamboo Airways acquired the Boeing 787 with the intention to launch long-haul flights. As part of these intentions, it had eyed Europe and the United States. We then learned that Prague would be the first European destination for the Boeing 787. Then, on the 5th of February, the airline launched ticket sales for the route commencing on the 29th of March.

However, the launch of the flights has now been delayed by four weeks. According to the Bamboo Airways website, this flight will now launch on the 26th of April. This is reflected in the airline's booking system, in addition to an advertisement on the website's homepage.

Bamboo Airways, Europe Delay, Prague
The flight will now launch on the 26th of April. Photo: Bamboo Airways

The route to Prague

The airline's European debut is now scheduled for the 26th of April with a Boeing 787. Bamboo is selling tickets for the route. However, a warning notifies that it is still subject to government approval at this time.

Bamboo Airways will operate its flights to Prague on Sundays and Wednesdays as follows from launch:

  • QH 61 will depart from Hanoi (HAN) at 08:40. Following a 12-hour 20-minute flight, the Boeing 787 will arrive in Prague (PRG) at 16:00.
  • The aircraft will then spend 2-hours 5-minutes on the ground in Prague.
  • QH 62 will depart from Prague at 18:05. Following a slightly shorter 11 hour flight, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is due to arrive back in Hanoi at 10:05 the next morning.
Bamboo Airways, Europe Delay, Prague
The route between Hanoi and Prague as the crow flies. Photo: GCMap

As a result, one whole rotation on the route is due to take the aircraft 25 hours and 25 minutes.

Two classes of tickets are currently on sale: Bamboo Plus and Bamboo Business. In the business class cabin of the Boeing 787 Bamboo Airways has installed a variant of the Collins Super Diamond, which is why it looks surprisingly similar to British Airways' new Club Suite. There are 26 business seats in a 1-2-1 configuration.

Bamboo Airways 787 business cabin
The Bamboo Airways 787 business class cabin. Photo: Bamboo Airways

The Boeing 787 also has a small premium economy cabin with 21 seats in a 2-3-2 configuration. Finally, the aircraft has 247 economy seats in a 3-3-3 layout.

Would you like to fly on Bamboo's new Boeing 787s between Hanoi and Prague? Have you been affected by the delay of the route's launch? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!