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This event marks the first time Dien Bien Airport has successfully received a type of jet aircraft with a large payload, high approach speed, and modern flight techniques.
This is a pivotal step paving the way for Bamboo Airways to officially launch commercial flights connecting Hanoi and Dien Bien from September onwards. From there, it aims to elevate the status of Dien Bien on the domestic aviation map, with a network of direct flights connecting the province to key cultural and economic centers nationwide such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Phu Quoc.
"Flight QH018 marks the beginning, a new chapter in the history of aviation in Dien Bien province, and perhaps even in the Northwest region and nationwide," said Mr. Vo Huy Cuong, Deputy Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam.
The Embraer jet used to operate this route has also been used by Bamboo Airways on many smaller direct routes such as Con Dao and Rach Gia.
In fact, Dien Bien Airport has unique and complex infrastructure, geopolitical, and meteorological characteristics. These features have previously hampered numerous research projects aimed at accommodating CAT C aircraft (aircraft with high approach speeds). Therefore, designing a feasible flight procedure for aircraft like the Embraer was identified as the most important task from the planning stage.
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Trong, Deputy General Director of Bamboo Airways, said: “With this successful test flight, along with the official launch of the route to Dien Bien before National Day on September 2nd, Bamboo Airways expects to effectively meet travel needs, providing the people of the province and passengers traveling to/from the locality with more diverse direct flight opportunities with five-star oriented flight services.”
This is part of the airline's plan to expand its flight network in 2021, with a particular focus on niche direct routes to/from locations such as Dien Bien, Ca Mau, Con Dao, Rach Gia… which no other airline operates using modern commercial jet aircraft.
