Aussie flight refund fury as global airline exits

Bamboo Airways’ sudden departure from the Australian market has left behind furious passengers demanding a refund.

Global airline Bamboo Airways has made a sudden and quick departure from the Australian market, leaving passengers in the dark about whether they will be able to get a refund.

The carrier launched in Australia early last year, with flights from Sydney and Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi in Vietnam.

These flight routes are now showing as “All flights unavailable” and “No flights found” on the Bamboo Airways website.

All Australian staff have also been made redundant, with the airline’s former National Sales Manager Australia & New Zealand, Brad Crawford, posting about it on his LinkedIn page.

“It is with a heavy heart that I advise all Bamboo Airways Australia staff have been made redundant including my National Sales Manager role,” Mr Crawford wrote.

“The past two years were amazing.”

Bamboo Airways has made a quick departure, with no return ticket. Picture: Supplied

An accompanying statement on Bamboo Airways’ website points to long-term restructuring as the reason for the abrupt departure, as it cancels all its long-haul flights, including London and Frankfurt, and tries to sell its Boeing 787 plane.

“Bamboo Airways’ initial progress lays the foundation for long-term restructuring to rebuild the airline more efficiently and streamlined,” the statement read.

“This will enhance the company’s competitiveness, capacity, and autonomy, enabling it to become more self-sufficient, attract high-quality resources and strategic investors, and ultimately achieve its objectives.

“The carrier’s fleet structure is expected to incorporate narrow-body aircraft and jets, which will be deployed on key domestic routes, strongly emphasizing trunk routes such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang. The airline will also offer services on domestic tourist routes with high demand and international routes to Southeast Asia.”

Business class on Bamboo Airways. Picture: Supplied

In a public Facebook group of more than 30,000 members, furious Aussie would-be passengers posted about the flight cancellations.

“No public announcement from Bamboo, they just cancelled all the bookings for November and December. Don’t know what they’re going to do with 2024’s bookings but highly likely they cancel as well,” wrote one annoyed customer.

“Does anyone know if they will refund our money?” asked another.

“They said they will not refund me. They claim bankruptcy,” one replied.

In a Vietnam Travel Group Facebook page of more than 103,000 members, an irate passenger wrote, “Do not book with Bamboo Airways! I booked our direct flights from Melbourne to Hanoi back in April. I called last week to confirm our special meals, and was informed that our direct flights had been cancelled and that our flights would now be via Ho Chi Min City. Just received a phone call advising that our flights have been cancelled all together... we were supposed to fly in 28 days.”

“Same happened to us but now we have our flight there this week and no flight home,” one of the comments read.

Part of Bamboo Airways’ statement does address those affected by cancellations, but does not go into great detail. “In the event of flight adjustment, affected passengers will be promptly notified and assisted in adherence to the airline’s policies and applicable laws.”

A Jetstar spokesperson has said they are monitoring demand for Vietnam flights.

“We’re monitoring demand to and from Ho Chi Minh City, and currently have thousands of low fares available between the popular Vietnamese destination and Melbourne and Sydney,” the spokesperson said.

“One-way fares between Sydney, Melbourne and Ho Chi Minh City currently start at $349. Ho Chi Minh City continues to be a popular and budget-friendly destination in Jetstar’s international network, with up to seven return flights operating from both Melbourne and Sydney each week.”