Photo: Sun PhuQuoc Airways Vietnam continues to capture global attention as one of the fastest-growing forces in Asian aviation.
Over the past decade, the nation has evolved into a tourism powerhouse, welcoming tens of millions of visitors each year.
By 2024, it surpassed an extraordinary milestone of more than 15 million international arrivals since the pandemic, a testament to its rising profile on the world stage.
Amid this momentum, a bold new player has entered the skies: Sun PhuQuoc Airways. Launched at breakneck speed with a clear vision, the airline is determined to rewrite the rules of regional aviation.
In just nine days, the carrier secured three Airbus aircraft, one brand-new A321neo and two A321ceo jets, and is targeting a fleet of eight by the end of 2025.
Ticket sales are set to open in October, with the inaugural flight scheduled for November. It is one of the most ambitious and accelerated timelines ever announced by a startup airline in Southeast Asia.
Phu Quoc: From Leisure Island to International Hub
The new Airline base is Phu Quoc Island, which is no longer merely a local vacation spot. It has become an international hub with luxury hotels, modern infrastructure, and significant investment from the Sun Group, the company owners. The strategic plan: to transform the island into a new gateway to Asia, akin to Singapore or Bangkok, but with a unique 'Resort in the Sky' twist, offering a vacation experience that begins on the flight itself.
To realize this vision, Sun Group is investing not only in the aircraft fleet but also in expanding Phu Quoc's international airport, expected to double its passenger capacity by 2027, coinciding with Vietnam hosting the APEC Summit.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways. Photo: 
Phu Quoc: From Leisure Island to International Hub. Photo: ShutterstockGlobal Ambitions
Initially, the company will focus on domestic routes: frequent connections between Phu Quoc and Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang. However, the goal is clear: to expand to key regions in Asia in the coming years, including Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Seoul, and Tokyo.
In the future, the possibility of operating routes to Europe and Australia is also being considered, with hints at negotiations for purchasing Boeing 787 Dreamliner wide-body aircraft.
The Vietnamese aviation market is more vibrant than ever: alongside established companies like Vietnam Airlines, VietJet, and Bamboo Airways, Sun PhuQuoc Airways enters as a new force with a clear distinction.
While VietJet focuses on low-cost and Vietnam Airlines offers traditional products, Sun PhuQuoc seeks to position itself in the middle, offering a premium experience at accessible prices.
The aircraft will feature spacious classes, personalized entertainment, free internet, and service aimed at giving travelers the feeling of being on vacation even before landing.
As Vietnam experiences a tourism boom, Sun PhuQuoc Airways aims to ride the wave and strengthen it. With a new fleet, ambitious plans, substantial investments, Sun PhuQuoc Airways has a clear vision to turn Phu Quoc into a significant new hub on the Asian aviation map.
It's worth mentioning that we here in Israel will also have direct flights to Vietnam, to the capital Hanoi, thanks to flights by Arkia Airlines set to begin operating the route this coming winter.
Photo: Sun PhuQuoc Airways