- Sun PhuQuoc Airways launches its first India connection with five weekly non-stop flights from December 2
- Ahmedabad chosen as gateway to India’s fast-growing outbound travel market
- Daily services planned from February 2027, with Delhi and Mumbai next in expansion pipeline
- 105 travel agents introduced to integrated flight, resort, wedding and MICE offerings
- Complimentary base-fare tickets for group bookings to boost family holidays and destination weddings
- Gujarati-speaking cabin crew suggestion gets a positive response, with Minar Group promising to consider it
R MANICKAVASAGAM
AHMEDABAD, NOV 14
Gujarat’s appetite for global travel is getting a new destination on the aviation map, with Vietnam’s Sun PhuQuoc Airways (SPA) choosing Ahmedabad as its launchpad for entering the Indian market. Its proposed non-stop connection to Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s celebrated ‘Pearl Island’, is set to open a new tourism and business corridor from December 2, bringing the island’s beaches, luxury resorts, wedding venues and entertainment attractions within direct flying distance of Gujarat.
At a pre-launch Agent Seminar and Press Conference at Hyatt Ahmedabad on Saturday, coinciding with Labh Pancham, the airline unveiled its Ahmedabad–Phu Quoc service before 105 Indian travel agents and representatives of 20 media organisations. The five-times-a-week service marks SPA’s first route to India and signals an ambitious push into one of the world’s rapidly expanding outbound travel markets.
The choice of Ahmedabad is significant. Beyond its growing appetite for international holidays, Gujarat offers substantial opportunities in family tourism, destination weddings, honeymoon travel, corporate gatherings and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE).
Ahmedabad becomes India’s first gateway
Tran Viet Loi, Director of Sales, Sun PhuQuoc Airways, described the new connection as an important addition to India–Vietnam air connectivity.
“The commencement of our Ahmedabad–Phu Quoc service marks an important addition to air connectivity between India and Vietnam. We are pleased to bring these two destinations closer through a direct flight connection, offering passengers greater convenience when planning their journeys. Our focus is on delivering a comfortable full-service travel experience while making Phu Quoc more accessible to international visitors. We look forward to welcoming passengers on this route and contributing to stronger travel connections between the two countries,” he said.
The airline is also positioning the service as more than a point-to-point flight. Through the wider Sun Group ecosystem, it intends to offer integrated travel experiences encompassing air connectivity, accommodation, transfers, leisure attractions and hospitality services.
“We offer all travel, tourism, hospitality services through various arms of Sun Group. Our bouquet of services include MICE and Wedding Destinations,” Tran Viet Loi added.
The strategy is to work closely with Indian travel agents and tour operators to develop end-to-end packages catering to families, honeymooners, group travellers and premium resort seekers.
Gujarati-speaking crew: A local touch under consideration
A distinctly Gujarati dimension emerged during the media interaction when the airline was asked whether it would deploy Gujarati-speaking cabin crew or Gujarati-language in-flight personnel to attract travellers from the Vibrant Gujarat business and tourism community.
Responding to the suggestion, Shallin Magoo, Vice-President, Minar Group, said: “As of now we don’t have this facility but will consider this suggestion in course of time. We will expand our services to other major cities of Gujarat based on the demand.”
The response leaves the door open for a local-language passenger experience as the airline assesses the potential of the Gujarat market. For travellers, language familiarity could add another layer of comfort to an international journey, particularly for families and senior citizens.
The airline’s future expansion within Gujarat will, however, depend on passenger demand and the commercial viability of additional connections.
328% surge in indian visitors to Phu Quoc
The airline’s India entry comes against the backdrop of a remarkable increase in Indian tourist arrivals in Phu Quoc.
The island welcomed approximately 1.5 lakh Indian visitors in 2025, registering a 328% increase over the previous year, despite the absence of a direct air connection. Vietnam as a whole received around 7.46 lakh visitors from India, making the country India’s sixth-largest source market among Vietnam’s top 10 international visitor markets.
The new Ahmedabad connection is expected to remove the inconvenience of transit through another airport, making the island more accessible to Gujarati families, honeymooners, wedding parties and leisure travellers.
For Phu Quoc, the Indian market represents an opportunity to expand its international tourism footprint. For Gujarat, the service offers a direct link to a destination that combines beaches, hospitality, entertainment and cultural experiences.
Flight timings, daily services and Indian-friendly hospitality
Sun PhuQuoc Airways will initially operate five weekly flights using the Airbus A321neo aircraft.
Flight 9G315 will depart Phu Quoc International Airport at 7.35 pm and arrive at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad, at 11.30 pm local time.
In the reverse direction, flight 9G314 will leave Ahmedabad at 1 am and reach Phu Quoc at 7.15 am.
Services from Phu Quoc are scheduled every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. From early February 2027, the airline plans to increase the frequency to seven flights a week.
The early-morning arrival in Phu Quoc is expected to give passengers more time to enjoy their first day on the island.
The airline is also seeking to address Indian passengers’ food preferences and cultural sensitivities. Its full-service offering includes meals and beverages specially curated for Indian travellers. No beef or pork will be served; non-vegetarian dishes will feature only chicken or fish, while vegetarian options and Halal meals will be available on request.
Carrying the airline’s ‘Resort in the Sky’ philosophy into the cabin, the experience includes the signature La Festa fragrance, originally created for La Festa Phu Quoc, Curio Collection by Hilton, along with wireless in-flight entertainment.
The ticket fare includes 23 kg of checked-in baggage and 7 kg of cabin baggage, adding to the convenience of international holiday travel.
Special fares, complimentary group tickets and resort privileges
To stimulate early bookings, SPA has announced a promotional offer for passengers booking through its official website or mobile application between October 16 and December 13, 2026.
The offer provides an additional 20% discount on base fares for travel up to March 31, 2027.
In a further incentive to attract group travellers, the airline is offering complimentary tickets equivalent to the base fare, depending on the size of the booking. Groups comprising 1 to 19 passengers will receive one complimentary ticket at the base fare; groups of 20 to 29 passengers will qualify for two complimentary tickets, while bookings for 30 or more passengers will be entitled to three complimentary tickets.
The initiative is expected to make the route particularly attractive for destination weddings, family holidays, corporate outings and MICE groups from Gujarat.
Passengers will also receive the ‘Phu Quoc – Your Ultimate Escape’ package, featuring a Sun World Hon Thom cable car ticket, WOW Pass priority access and discounts of up to 30% on resort and entertainment services across the Sun Group ecosystem in Phu Quoc.
The promotional combination of air travel, attractions and hospitality is aimed at encouraging Indian visitors to experience the island as an integrated holiday destination rather than merely a beach getaway.
Two-way tourism and business corridor
While Indian travellers will gain a direct gateway to Phu Quoc, the new service is equally expected to facilitate Vietnamese visitors travelling to Gujarat.
According to India’s Ministry of Tourism, 54,091 Vietnamese visitors travelled to India in 2024, indicating scope for further growth in tourism and business exchanges.
Ahmedabad, with its industrial base, commercial ecosystem and international business connections, offers Vietnamese visitors opportunities to explore trade, investment, manufacturing, education and tourism.
For Indian travellers, Phu Quoc can also serve as the starting point for discovering other Vietnamese destinations. SPA’s domestic network connects the island with Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Van Don and Hai Phong, enabling passengers to combine beach holidays with city visits and cultural exploration.
India expansion: Delhi and Navi Mumbai in the pipeline
Ahmedabad is the first milestone in the airline’s proposed expansion across India. SPA aims to introduce services to New Delhi and Navi Mumbai during the first quarter of 2027, extending its reach into the country’s major metropolitan markets.
Its fleet expansion plans underline the scale of its ambitions. The airline expects to operate 33 aircraft by the end of 2026 and 58 by the end of 2027. Its Airbus A330 wide-body fleet is also projected to grow from five to eight aircraft.
With Ahmedabad as its first Indian gateway, Sun PhuQuoc Airways is seeking to build a wider bridge between Vietnam and India, combining aviation, hospitality, tourism and business opportunities.
For Gujarat’s travel industry, the December 2 launch could mark the beginning of a new chapter in direct international connectivity—one in which a journey from the Vibrant Gujarat landscape to Vietnam’s Pearl Island no longer needs a transit stop.