Sun PhuQuoc Airways Shortlists London and Sydney for 787-9 Flights

Planned Long-Haul Network and Aircraft Commitments

Sun PhuQuoc Airways is evaluating intercontinental expansion by shortlisting five major long-haul destinations from Phu Quoc Island. According to Travel And Tour World Aviation Discovery, the carrier is planning potential direct services connecting the Vietnamese resort destination with London, Frankfurt, Prague, Melbourne, and Sydney. The long-distance routes are being evaluated for operation with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner widebody twinjets. Operational launch dates, specific airport slot selections, and passenger fares remain unannounced, and bookings have not opened across airline reservation channels. Source

The long-range strategy follows an agreement announced by Boeing in February 2026 covering up to 40 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft for the carrier. Boeing lists the 787-9 with an operational range of approximately 14,010 kilometres, giving the airframe the range needed to reach destinations in Western Europe and eastern Australia non-stop from southern Vietnam. Sun PhuQuoc Airways has set an overarching corporate target of assembling a 100-aircraft fleet by 2030. The long-haul additions are intended to develop Phu Quoc into an international air transit hub. Source

The carrier has established distinct deployment timelines for its widebody fleets. An official aviation update reveals that initial services between Vietnam and Australia are planned to use Airbus A330 aircraft beginning in May 2027. Australian services using the newer Boeing 787-9 fleet are targeted for deployment beyond 2027 rather than during the initial 2027 wave. Sun PhuQuoc Airways has identified Sydney and Melbourne as dual network priorities intended to serve leisure travelers, business passengers, and visiting friends and relatives. Source

Passenger Entry Rules and Existing Network Feed

European long-haul evaluations target outbound leisure demand from northern and central Europe. For British travelers heading to island resorts in the Gulf of Thailand, non-stop flights from London would eliminate the need to transfer through mainland hubs like Ho Chi Minh City or Bangkok. However, Travel And Tour World Aviation Discovery reports that the carrier has not designated a specific London terminal, operating frequency, or flight timetable. Direct services to Frankfurt and Prague are planned to provide holiday travelers with point-to-point connections directly into southern Vietnam. Source

International passengers considering Phu Quoc travel benefit from existing immigration exemptions instituted by Vietnamese border authorities. British passport holders are permitted visa-free stays across Vietnam for up to 45 days under standard entry conditions. A separate 30-day visa exemption applies to eligible international visitors traveling directly to Phu Quoc Island. German and Czech citizens also qualify for Vietnam's standard 45-day exemption, while Australian visitors can access the island-specific 30-day exemption or obtain standard electronic visas for wider multi-city itineraries. Source

Regional connections feed the island before the proposed intercontinental services take off. Sun PhuQuoc Airways already maintains scheduled operations connecting Phu Quoc with Asian aviation hubs including Seoul, Bangkok, Singapore, Taipei, Hong Kong, and Chengdu. Additional planned regional expansions encompass Kuala Lumpur, Japanese points, India, Russia, and Kazakhstan. Domestic sectors between Phu Quoc and major cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Nha Trang provide connecting passenger flow throughout the airline's domestic network. Source

Market Strategy and Tourism Infrastructure Integration

Aviation expansion across Vietnam is accompanied by bilateral route adjustments on other international corridors. Independent reporting from Vietnam.vn shows Vietjet Air operates four weekly flights between Hanoi and Shizuoka, Japan, a service inaugurated on April 28, 2026. However, airline representative Ta Huu Thanh indicated that passenger demand on the route remains asymmetrical, with Vietnamese travelers making up roughly two-thirds of booked passenger volume and foreign travelers accounting for one-third, demonstrating the operational challenge of building balanced two-way international point-to-point demand. Source

The international long-haul expansion aligns with broader national efforts to connect air transport directly to specialized tourism sectors. In an editorial published by Laodong.vn, policy analysts highlighted Politburo Resolution 26-NQ/TW, which establishes a framework to integrate civil aviation with high-end resorts, healthcare packages, and wellness retreats to build an industry targeted at 4 billion dollars by 2030. The Ministry of Health is currently drafting development projects spanning 2026 to 2030 to streamline arrival logistics from airport terminals to certified treatment facilities. Source

High-value leisure tourism is expanding alongside airline fleet investments. In an interview published by Vietnam.vn, Mark Reeves, Deputy General Director of BRG Group, noted that Vietnam operates roughly 80 golf courses, with national capacity projected to reach 100 to 120 courses by 2030. Long-haul direct flights from Europe and Australia could feed golf, beach, and wellness travelers directly to coastal resort centers. However, long-haul seat capacity can only translate into commercial viability if final regulatory approvals, airport landing slots, and published flight timetables materialize. Source