{"id":3485,"date":"2026-06-26T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/?post_type=news&p=3485"},"modified":"2026-06-26T19:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T10:00:00","slug":"phuquoc-airways-expansion","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/news\/phuquoc-airways-expansion\/","title":{"rendered":"Phu Quoc's New Airline Heads Toward a 26-Aircraft Fleet. How Will Japanese Travel to Vietnam Change?"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Phu Quoc-based new airline is rapidly adding routes<\/h2>\n

Vietnam's Sun PhuQuoc Airways received an Airbus A320neo as its 11th aircraft on June 23, 2026. Timing it with this, the airline simultaneously fixed launch dates for six domestic routes and two international routes, rapidly expanding its network ahead of the summer leisure season. With an airline bearing the name of the resort island Phu Quoc as its base reconnecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with various destinations, this also affects how Japanese travelers wanting to tour Phu Quoc together with the north and Central Highlands build their itineraries. There are still no direct flights to Japan, but the point that travel options within Vietnam are increasing is worth noting.<\/p>\n

The one aircraft received and the confirmed launch schedule<\/h2>\n

The A320neo received this time is said to improve fuel efficiency by about 20% over the previous generation and to reduce emissions and noise. Alongside introducing this aircraft, the airline announced its launch calendar for the summer. On international routes, Phu Quoc\u2013Chengdu launches on July 16 with three round trips a week, followed by Ho Chi Minh City\u2013Chengdu on August 22 with four round trips a week, and Hanoi\u2013Incheon and Ho Chi Minh City\u2013Incheon each on August 25 with one round trip a day.<\/p>\n

Six domestic routes launch at roughly the same time. Hanoi\u2013Cam Ranh (toward Nha Trang) on July 20 with three round trips a day, Ho Chi Minh City\u2013Hai Phong and Phu Quoc\u2013Hai Phong each on July 25 with one round trip a day, Hanoi\u2013Da Lat and Hanoi\u2013Buon Ma Thuot each on August 22 with one round trip a day, and Hanoi\u2013Can Tho in late August with two round trips a day. The addition of a flight directly linking Phu Quoc and the northern port city of Hai Phong stands out compared with the previous route lineup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Line<\/th>\nLaunch date<\/th>\nFrequency<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Phu Quoc\u2013Chengdu<\/td>\nJuly 16<\/td>\n3 round trips\/week<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hanoi\u2013Cam Ranh<\/td>\nJuly 20<\/td>\n3 round trips\/day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ho Chi Minh City\u2013Hai Phong<\/td>\nJuly 25<\/td>\n1 round trip\/day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Phu Quoc\u2013Hai Phong<\/td>\nJuly 25<\/td>\n1 round trip\/day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ho Chi Minh City\u2013Chengdu<\/td>\nAugust 22<\/td>\n4 round trips\/week<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hanoi\u2013Da Lat<\/td>\nAugust 22<\/td>\n1 round trip\/day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hanoi\u2013Buon Ma Thuot<\/td>\nAugust 22<\/td>\n1 round trip\/day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hanoi\u2013Incheon \/ Ho Chi Minh City\u2013Incheon<\/td>\nAugust 25<\/td>\n1 round trip\/day each<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hanoi\u2013Can Tho<\/td>\nLate August<\/td>\n2 round trips\/day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Why expand this rapidly now<\/h2>\n

Sun PhuQuoc Airways is an airline launched by the real estate and tourism giant Sun Group, and it began commercial operations in November 2025. Given that ticket sales started on October 15 that year, it works out to having built its fleet up to 11 aircraft in a little over half a year from launch. The airline aims to add 16 more A320\/A321-family aircraft by the end of August, bringing its total fleet to 26 over the summer. It also says it is targeting a 10-route network on international services by the end of August.<\/p>\n

The airline's defining feature is positioning Phu Quoc, Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), and Noi Bai (Hanoi) as its main hubs and calling itself a resort-oriented full-service carrier. It has signaled expansion to nearby hubs like Taipei, Seoul, and Bangkok, and these Chengdu and Incheon launches form the first wave of that. You can clearly see the strategy of a new airline, amid a recovery in leisure demand, first forging strong links between tourist destinations and major cities and neighboring countries.<\/p>\n

How locals and the industry see it<\/h2>\n

According to the airline, comments to the effect of \"this demonstrates a long-term investment stance and will improve domestic and regional connectivity\" have been issued regarding the rapid fleet buildup. Among travel-industry people in Vietnam, the view is emerging that the direct Phu Quoc\u2013Hai Phong link will make it easier to incorporate Phu Quoc into a northern circuit. Some aviation observers describe the expansion plan, with the A330 and Boeing 787 also in its sights, as \"an aggressive network expansion betting on growth in leisure demand.\" On the other hand, the announcement lining up all the launch dates at once has also drawn cautious reactions wanting to see whether aircraft and crew can be secured as planned.<\/p>\n

What changes for Japanese travelers<\/h2>\n

Honestly, Sun PhuQuoc Airways still has no direct flights to and from Japan. To head to Phu Quoc from Japan, the premise remains, as before, transiting via Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, or a regional hub. On that basis, where this route expansion takes effect is domestic travel after arriving in Vietnam. For circuit-style itineraries\u2014say, entering through Hanoi and heading south to Phu Quoc, or enjoying the beaches of Phu Quoc and then extending to Central Highlands towns like Da Lat or Buon Ma Thuot\u2014connection options increase.<\/p>\n

The Phu Quoc\u2013Hai Phong route in particular creates room to link Halong Bay in the north with beach resorts in a single itinerary. Phu Quoc's airport infrastructure itself is also being developed with international events in mind, raising the island's capacity as a gateway. How far Phu Quoc will become an international hub is easier to grasp when read alongsidedevelopments around APEC in Phu Quoc.<\/a>If you want to sort out the options on the Ho Chi Minh City side as the connection core,the topic of direct international flights from Phu Quoc<\/a>can also serve as a basis for judgment.<\/p>\n

What to watch out for is that flights right after a new launch are prone to reductions and schedule changes. For the first few weeks after launch, it's safer to keep buffer days and not place a Phu Quoc flight as the \"absolutely can't-miss\" leg of your itinerary. Tickets are handled on the airline's official site and Vietnamese booking sites, but since conditions can change in the early days, checking the operating status before purchase gives you peace of mind.<\/p>\n

Ripple effects on the market<\/h2>\n

Vietnam's aviation market has long been structured around Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, and Bamboo Airways as its mainstays. Into that, Sun Group's Sun PhuQuoc Airways has entered, raising the banner of specializing in tourist destinations. The idea of building routes from resorts and summer retreats like Phu Quoc and Da Lat brings competition to domestic leisure routes from a slightly different angle than the existing majors. The expansion to neighboring countries like Chengdu and Incheon is also part of the scramble over regional hubs.<\/p>\n

Amid the development of Vietnam's transport infrastructure as a whole, including airports and railways, a new airline's entry affects travel costs and times. If you want to compare options for long-distance domestic travel within Vietnam, following it together withthe reopening of Da Lat Airport<\/a>airport-side developments like these helps you see which cities are becoming easier to access.<\/p>\n

Practical information and next actions<\/h2>\n

If you're considering a Vietnam trip incorporating Phu Quoc or the Central Highlands, the clearest procedure is to first decide whether to make Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City your entry point into Vietnam, then check whether you can connect to your destination on Sun PhuQuoc Airways domestic flights. Since launch dates are concentrated from mid-July to late August, the more your itinerary falls after August, the more options you'll have.<\/p>\n