According to two anonymous sources, several pilots have resigned from Bamboo Airways, Vietnam's third-largest airline, in the past two months due to delayed salary payments. Over 30 foreign pilots, accounting for more than 10% of the airline's total pilot staff in June, have left during this time.
.gif)
The airline, which has faced financial struggles, claims that the departures were due to its ongoing restructuring efforts, which involve its route network, fleet, and human resources. Bamboo Airways did not provide details on the number of pilots who have left or been dismissed.
Although staff at Bamboo have experienced salary payment delays in the past, this has not affected foreign pilots until recently. Internal company chat forum messages seen by Reuters confirm that some salary payments have been late. Despite this, Bamboo Airways has stated that it is operating smoothly and plans to raise capital from strategic shareholders. Its major financial backer, Vietnam's Sacombank, has yet to comment on the situation.
Bamboo Airways has had management changes and aggressive restructuring since a former chairman was arrested in March 2022 over allegations of stock market manipulation. Although it had previously announced plans to list in the United States in 2021, the airline is struggling to stabilize its operations. Bamboo Airways currently holds around 17% of Vietnam's market share, and seven of its 30 planes are currently undergoing maintenance.