Sun PhuQuoc Airways: The airline promising to be Vietnam’s first ‘Resort in the Sky’
August 12, 2025
Vietnam’s newest airline, Sun PhuQuoc Airways (SPA), is positioning itself as the country’s first “resort in the sky”, offering a leisure-focused airline that integrates the tourism assets of parent company Sun Group into a full-service carrier with hopes to launch this year.
SPA intends to link domestic and international markets directly to the Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc, in the Gulf of Thailand, serving both package holiday customers and independent travellers.
The airline is making progress towards its inaugural flight, with plans to start ticket sales in October and the inaugural flight earmarked for the end of the year.
SPA received its air transport licence in June 2025, which permits both scheduled and charter operations, and the carrier took delivery of its first aircraft in August.
Sun PhuQuoc and the ‘Resort in the sky’
Sun Group’s strategy for SPA aligns with its broader tourism and hospitality portfolio. The airline will serve as a direct feeder into the company’s resorts on Phu Quoc.
The “resort in the sky” concept will be reflected in the cabin environment, inflight catering, and service presentation, aiming to replicate the atmosphere of the island from the point of boarding.
“This innovative model combines transportation and tourism, where each flight is not merely a means of getting from one place to another but the beginning of a vacation, starting the moment passengers step on board and journey through the skies,” the carrier said.
SPA hopes its initial routes will connect Phu Quoc with Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, alongside international services to Japan, South Korea and China.
Longer-term objectives include services to Russia, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and Australia.
Sun PhuQuoc’s fleet and operational plans
On 10 August 2025, SPA took delivery of its first aircraft, a new Airbus A321neo (registered VN-A281)
The narrowbody is the first of eight scheduled to enter service by the end of 2025.
The airline has signed a memorandum of understanding with state-owned Vietcombank to finance its fleet, which is expected to grow to 10 Airbus A320/A321neo aircraft in the near term.
It plans to expand its fleet to 31 aircraft by 2030.
SPA has also entered a strategic partnership with Amadeus to implement the Altéa Passenger Service System, covering reservations, inventory management and departure control.
The agreement also includes SkyWORKS for flight scheduling and revenue accounting.
These systems will provide connectivity to global distribution channels, enabling SPA to market its services to both tour operators and direct passengers.
Infrastructure investment at Phu Quoc airport
On 19 June 2025, Sun Group secured government approval for a VND 21,998 billion (£620 million) investment to expand Phu Quoc International Airport.
The project, which will be executed in two phases between 2025 and 2030, will deliver a new passenger terminal inspired by the form of a phoenix, extended runways, and more than 100 aircraft stands, including positions for widebody aircraft.
Planned enhancements in the terminal include biometric check-in and automated baggage handling.
The upgrade is scheduled for completion ahead of the APEC 2027 summit, which Vietnam will host, providing SPA with a platform to showcase its services to an international audience.
The expansion will cover a total area of 1,050 hectares, increasing annual capacity to 18 million passengers – 4.5 times the current capacity.
SPA’s market position
In a competitive Vietnamese aviation market where low-cost carriers such as VietJet Air have established a foothold, SPA’s proposition sets it apart: a full-service leisure airline integrated into a wider hospitality offering.
With its initial aircraft in place, airport infrastructure improvements underway, and the backing of one of Vietnam’s most prominent tourism investors, Sun PhuQuoc Airways is entering the market with considerable resources and a clearly defined strategy.
“Sun PhuQuoc Airways represents a strategic pillar in our vision to build a world-class ecosystem of tourism, resort, entertainment, and aviation,” says Dang Minh Truong, chairman of the board of Sun Group. “We are not merely building an airline for everyone – we are initiating a new way of thinking: transforming each flight into a natural extension of one’s vacation, where emotions, Vietnamese identity, and international service standards all take flight together.”
