Sun PhuQuoc Airways will start five weekly direct flights between Ahmedabad and Phu Quoc from December 3. The airline will use Airbus A321neo aircraft for this route. "Our first direct flight for the Indian market will start operating from December 3 from Ahmedabad to the beautiful island of Phu Quoc."
Sun PhuQuoc Airways to deploy brand-new Airbus A321neo aircraft, with a capacity of around 230 passengers, on the route
Vietnamese carrier Sun PhuQuoc Airways will enter the Indian aviation market with the launch of five weekly direct flights between Ahmedabad and Phu Quoc -- Vietnam's largest island -- from December 3, seeking to tap growing outbound travel demand from Gujarat and targeting a 90 per cent occupancy on the new route.
With the launch, Sun PhuQuoc Airways will become the third airline to operate direct flights between Ahmedabad and Vietnam, joining Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet, which currently connect the city with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, respectively. The new service will add another destination in Vietnam to Ahmedabad's growing international air connectivity. "Our first direct flight for the Indian market will start operating from December 3 from Ahmedabad to the beautiful island of Phu Quoc. Ahmedabad will be our first destination in India where we will be flying to," Tran Viet Loi, Director of Commercial, Sun PhuQuoc Airways, told the businessline on Saturday. The official was in the city to meet travel agents.
"We did careful research about the market in India. We found a huge demand among tourists travelling to Vietnam from Gujarat. Phu Quoc island is the number one destination among tourists from India. Of the 7-lakh-plus Indians who travelled to Vietnam in 2025, 20 per cent were from Gujarat. With the inaugural flight we are targeting 90% load factor from the Ahmedabad market," Loi said about the connectivity to Phu Quoc which is known for its white-sand beaches, turquoise waters and tropical landscapes.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways will deploy brand-new Airbus A321neo aircraft, with a capacity of around 230 passengers, on the route. Average return fares for free independent travellers (FITs) are expected to range between ₹30,000 and ₹35,000. The airline is also tailoring its onboard services to suit travellers from Gujarat. It is positioning itself as a full-service carrier, offering complimentary meals, baggage allowance and transfers. No beef or pork will be served, while non-vegetarian meals will be restricted to chicken and fish options. Vegetarian and halal meals will also be available on request. It is also offering a 20 per cent discount to its travel agent partners as it looks to build its distribution network and generate demand in the Indian market.
India expansion plans
Ahmedabad is the first step in the airline's broader strategy to develop the Indian market. Sun PhuQuoc Airways is considering launching a direct service between Da Nang and Ahmedabad and increasing frequencies to other Indian cities. "We plan to also operate a direct flight from Da Nang to Ahmedabad and also increase frequencies to other cities including New Delhi, Mumbai and later to Bangalore and Hyderabad in the second or third quarter of 2027," Loi said.
The airline's entry comes amid growing demand for direct air connectivity between India and Vietnam. Vietnam Airlines currently operates four flights a week between Ahmedabad and Hanoi, while Vietjet operates daily services to Hanoi and six to seven flights a week to Ho Chi Minh City. "The current flights that fly directly to various destinations in Vietnam are seeing an occupancy of over 80 per cent. The time between October and March is the peak tourist season in Vietnam. The demand is high and there are no rains and the water in the ocean is very clear," Loi said.
The Ahmedabad-Phu Quoc service will operate five days a week. Flight 9G315 will depart Phu Quoc International Airport at 7.35 pm and arrive at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad at 11.30 pm local time. The return service, flight 9G314, will depart Ahmedabad at 1 am and arrive in Phu Quoc at 7.15 am. Departures from Phu Quoc are scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. The airline plans to increase the frequency to seven flights a week from early February 2027.
Phu Quoc emerges as an Indian tourist favourite
Located in the Gulf of Thailand, Phu Quoc is increasingly emerging as a popular destination among Indian holidaymakers, including those travelling for leisure, family vacations and destination weddings. Of the 746,000 Indian tourists who visited Vietnam in 2025, around 150,000 travelled to Phu Quoc, according to figures shared by the airline.
The number of Indian tourists visiting the island has tripled over the previous year. "South Korea, China, Russia, Japan and India are among the top countries from where tourists travel to Vietnam every year. More and more Indians are travelling to Vietnam every year. While a large number of Indians come for tourism, there are many who come for destination weddings," Loi added.