Founders' crisis, restructuring and new owner
In March 2022, Trịnh Văn Quyết – the founder and chairman of Bamboo Airways' then-parent group FLC – as well as many other of FLC's key people were arrested over alleged stock market manipulation, fraud and appropriation of properties.[14][15] Concerned that the crisis would negatively affect the operations of the carrier and damage the rights and safety of the customers, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam announced that it would closely monitor and supervise Bamboo Airways in a certain period of time, while Bamboo Airways declared that it faced little disruption and its business was still running "smoothly".[16]
Followed by the authorities' investigations aiming at its parent company FLC Group, Bamboo Airways stated that it was in need of a "strategic investor".[17] Local media reported that a new owner had already started its acquisition of Bamboo Airways by refreshing the board of directors of the enterprise, announcing restructure plans for Bamboo Airways as well as cutting connections between Bamboo Airways's operations and its "former" owner FLC Group.[18][19]
The official website of Bamboo Airways no longer mentions the names of its founders, including the "FLC Group" brand.[20] In the financial report of 2022's third quarter, FLC formally confirmed that its stake in Bamboo had been reduced to just more than 21%, eventually losing its dominant stakeholder position.[21]
In March 2023, Bamboo Airways confirmed that it had found a group of new investors replacing Trịnh Văn Quyết and FLC's ownership in the company. Meanwhile, the first Bamboo aircraft was rolled out in Taiwan without "FLC Group" marking.[22]
On 21 June 2023, Him Lam Group was officially announced as the new owner of Bamboo Airways.[23] Shortly after the Him Lam takeover, there were allegations of Bamboo Airways filing for bankruptcy protection due to "the inability of the new investors." The carrier later refuted the rumours mentioned while committing that it would maintain all normal operations.[24][25] It was subsequently recognized that Sacombank is looking to invest into the airline and help improving the financial situation of the carrier.[26]
In October 2023, Bamboo appointed Luong Hoai Nam as the new CEO while announcing fleet restructuring, hinting that the carrier may decommission its widebody fleet.[27] In 2026, the carrier expressed intention to maintain its Boeing 787 Dreamliner order and studying the Boeing 737 MAX.[28]
