Sun PhuQuoc Airways Takes Delivery of First Airbus A330-200

Sun PhuQuoc Airways took delivery of its first wide-body aircraft, an Airbus A330-200, at Phu Quoc International Airport (PQC) on September 22, 2026, marking a rapid expansion into twin-aisle operations just ten months after the carrier commenced commercial flights.

The arrival of the aircraft, registered as VN-A969, brings the airline’s total fleet to 21 aircraft. According to a press release issued by parent company Sun Group on September 23, 2026, the delivery initiates a broader strategy to establish Phu Quoc as a global aviation hub ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in 2027.

Fleet expansion and aircraft specifications

The newly delivered Airbus A330-200 (msn 1415) is 13.4 years old and was previously operated by US Airways and American Airlines before being retired in 2020, according to fleet data from ch-aviation. The aircraft is configured to accommodate 247 passengers, featuring 20 Business class seats, 21 Premium Economy seats, and 206 Economy class seats.

Sun PhuQuoc Airways plans to induct a total of eight Airbus A330 aircraft between September 2026 and April 2027. The carrier projects its A330 fleet will grow to 15 airframes by 2030. This wide-body growth follows the September 21, 2026, delivery of the airline’s 20th aircraft, an Airbus A321LR. The operator is targeting a total fleet size of 33 aircraft by the end of 2026 and holds commitments for up to 40 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, including 20 firm orders, to support future long-haul routes.

Scheduled passenger operations for the A330-200 are slated to begin on October 25, 2026. AeroRoutes reports the aircraft will initially be deployed on the domestic route between Hanoi and Phu Quoc for the Northern winter 2026/27 season.

Maintenance agreements and infrastructure investment

To support the introduction of the twin-aisle fleet, Sun PhuQuoc Airways secured a six-year Power-by-the-Hour (PBH) agreement with AJW Group. The contract, detailed by Aviation Week on September 23, 2026, extends an existing component support arrangement that covers the airline’s Airbus A320 family aircraft.

“Supporting the introduction of a new widebody fleet requires careful planning, reliable logistics, and strong technical expertise, and we are proud to bring all three to this programme,” said Scott Symington, Chief Commercial Officer at AJW Group.

Pham Dang Thanh, Deputy Chief Executive of Sun PhuQuoc Airways, noted that securing a technical partner was critical to ensuring reliable component support and providing the confidence needed to expand the airline’s international network.

Concurrently, Sun Group is investing 500 billion VND to upgrade Terminal 1 at Phu Quoc International Airport. The infrastructure project aims to increase the terminal’s annual capacity to 9 million passengers, supporting the airline’s hub-and-spoke operational model.

AirPro News analysis

The pace of Sun PhuQuoc Airways’ expansion is highly unusual for a startup carrier. Transitioning to wide-body operations less than a year after launching commercial flights introduces significant operational and regulatory complexity. We view the aggressive fleet acquisition strategy, particularly the rapid induction of eight Airbus A330s by April 2027, as a high-stakes maneuver heavily dependent on the successful execution of Sun Group’s broader tourism and infrastructure investments in Phu Quoc.

Relying on mid-life, previous-generation wide-body aircraft like the 13.4-year-old A330-200 allows the airline to minimize initial capital expenditure compared to acquiring new airframes. However, this strategy places a premium on maintenance reliability, making the comprehensive PBH agreement with AJW Group a necessary safeguard against operational disruptions as the carrier scales its network.

Sources: Sun Group