Vietnam’s Phu Quoc airport upgrade brings Smart Path kiosks, bag drop and e-gates
April 22, 2026
SITA has become the latest company to partner with Sun Group at Phu Quoc International Airport. The Vietnamese operator is pursuing an ambitious transformation of the airport into a fully self-service aviation hub.
Sun Group began operating the airport in January 2026 and has now tasked SITA with upgrading its passenger processing solutions. The technology rollout is expected to be complete ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2027 forum. The project will establish a template for technology deployment across Sun Group’s future airport developments in Vietnam.
Phu Quoc: a rising Asia-Pacific destination
The airport upgrade reflects Phu Quoc’s emergence as a major leisure destination and is part of wider efforts to integrate aviation with Sun Group’s tourism and hospitality ecosystem on the island, which includes luxury resorts, entertainment venues, and Sun Phu Quoc Airways, launched in November 2025.
The airport handled around 6 million passengers in 2025, but is projected to handle 24 million annually once the new Terminal 2 opens in 2027. In the long term, capacity is designed to scale to 50 million. Ongoing works include a second runway, a new international terminal, and a VIP terminal, along with expanded aprons and auxiliary infrastructure.
Sun Group’s long-term ambition is to “transform Phu Quoc International Airport from a place passengers have to go into a place they want to go”.
What is SITA deploying at Phu Quoc?
Recent upgrades at the airport already include an ePass toll collection system to ease landside congestion and enhance passenger convenience. Passengers also now benefit from free WiFi, with 4G/5G signal-boosting antennas installed to ensure seamless, stable connectivity throughout the terminals.
This latest collaboration will see SITA deploy a full suite of airport technologies across the new terminal. Passengers will be able to check in, select seats, and print boarding passes from 150 SITA Smart Path kiosks. In addition, 100 SITA Smart Path Bag Drop units will be available for self-service baggage tagging and dropping, and 38 dual-lane SITA Smart Path Gates will enable automated boarding.
Other solutions, such as SITA Flex Hybrid, will support 204 common-use workstations, with baggage tracking via SITA Bag Manager Lite.
A template for Vietnam expansion
Sun Group and SITA have worked together since 2019, when SITA delivered technology solutions at Van Don Airport. SITA will also support the group’s wider airport transformation programme. The Phu Quoc model will be replicated at Phan Thiet Airport and at planned developments in Con Dao and Rach Gia. The group aims to operate at least five airports across Vietnam within the next five years.
Sumesh Patel, SITA’s President, Asia Pacific, described the collaboration as a “key milestone in supporting the region’s growth with future-ready infrastructure,” as he noted Vietnam’s status as one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in Asia.
Nguyen Chi Thanh, President of Sun Group, added his support for the collaboration, saying: “SITA’s proven expertise and end-to-end technology capabilities will play a key role in helping us deliver smarter, more efficient, and seamless passenger experiences”.
Sun Group’s collaboration with Changi Airports International
The partnership with SITA complements another collaboration Sun Group agreed in March with Changi Airports International (CAI). That partnership covers the entire lifecycle of Phu Quoc Airport’s development from design advisory and operational planning, through a comprehensive Concept of Operations (CONOPS) and performance optimisation.
CAI will also work with airlines to grow connectivity and build non-aeronautical revenue streams.
The collaboration will make Phu Quoc International Airport the first airport in Vietnam to be operated by an international partner under “Changi standards” – a benchmark built around the pioneering “airport destination” model. This model redefines airports as destinations in their own right, offering retail, dining, entertainment, cultural experiences and large-scale events alongside world-class transport infrastructure.
Featured image: Sun Group
