Sun PhuQuoc Airways (SPA) expects connecting passengers to account for as much as 35% of its traffic from 2027 as the Vietnamese startup builds a hub at Phu Quoc around domestic feed, international leisure routes and Sun Group’s wider tourism portfolio.
Point-to-point passengers currently account for about 80-85% of the airline’s traffic, reflecting the strength of direct leisure demand to the island. However, the carrier plans to increase connections as it introduces international widebody service and expands domestic links beyond Vietnam’s largest cities.
“Looking ahead to 2027 and beyond, we expect connecting traffic to grow to 25-35% as international widebody services expand and more passengers connect through Phu Quoc to domestic destinations such as Da Nang, Nha Trang and Van Don,” Phan Anh Nghia, SPA's deputy manager of network planning, told Routes.
“Our strategy is to develop these two flows in parallel: serving travelers whose destination is Phu Quoc today, while progressively building the connectivity to make the island a gateway to other destinations across Vietnam,” Phan said.
The model differs from those of Vietnam’s established airlines, whose networks are centered primarily on Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Sun PhuQuoc instead intends to build a destination-led network combining domestic services, international point-to-point flying and connecting itineraries through Phu Quoc International Airport (PQC).
OAG Schedules Analyser data shows the airline is scheduled to serve 16 routes involving Phu Quoc during the northern winter 2026-27 season, offering approximately 1.96 million two-way seats. Eleven of those routes are international, providing about 686,500 seats.
The international network links Phu Quoc with Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Taipei, Singapore, Ahmedabad, Almaty and Chengdu. Across its entire network, SPA is scheduled to provide about 3.98 million seats on 29 airport pairs during the season.
Domestic capacity will support the connecting strategy. The airline plans to operate up to 8X-daily flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc and 6X-daily flights from Hanoi. The schedule is also expected to include two daily Da Nang services and a daily Nha Trang flight.
Sun PhuQuoc’s broader domestic network includes up to 11X-daily frequencies between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and four daily Hanoi-Da Nang flights. Services involving Hai Phong and Van Don are intended to extend the airline’s reach into northern Vietnam while supporting aircraft utilization away from Phu Quoc.
“SPA’s immediate priority is to strengthen connectivity between Phu Quoc and Vietnam’s major population centers, while building a domestic network that can support the island’s growth as an international tourism hub,” Phan said.
Phu Quoc’s selection to host the 2027 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit is expected to accelerate investment in airport and tourism infrastructure and raise the island’s international profile. SPA wants the additional capacity to provide a foundation for growth beyond the summit, rather than serve only a temporary demand surge.
“With Phu Quoc set to host APEC 2027, the island has an important opportunity to strengthen its international profile and accelerate the development of its tourism and aviation infrastructure,” Phan said.
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