HANOI: Vietnam has approved the establishment of a new airline, Sun PhuQuoc Airways, which aims to have a fleet of more than 30 aircraft by the end of the decade, parent company Sun Group said Wednesday (May 21).
The communist country's aviation sector has boomed in recent years thanks to a rapidly expanding middle class with growing appetites -- and budgets -- for travel.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways (SPA) will focus on bringing more international visitors to Vietnam's southern Phu Quoc Island, a popular destination among both local and international tourists, a Sun Group statement said.
But it will also target other "major tourism and business destinations in Vietnam and around the world", the statement added.
Almost $100 million will be invested in the airline, which plans a fleet of 31 aircraft by 2030.
The first commercial flights are scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year.
Sun Group is a powerful real estate and entertainment company that has many prominent developments across the country.
Vietnam's aviation sector is dominated by national flag-carrier Vietnam Airlines and budget airline Vietjet, while smaller players include Bamboo Airways and Vietravel Airlines. - AFP
