Phu Quoc becomes a major aviation hub in the Asia-Pacific region News

Phu Quoc International Airport will become a fully self-service, next-generation aviation hub ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2027 Forum. Sun Group, one of Vietnam’s largest private conglomerates, is partnering with SITA to lead this transformation. To support the rapidly growing demand for air travel in Vietnam, the parties also signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a framework for broader cooperation on Sun Group’s future airport developments in Vietnam.

Phu Quoc International Airport is expected to handle 24 million passengers annually once the new Terminal 2 opens, with long-term capacity designed to scale up to 50 million. The development comes at a crucial time and will put Phu Quoc in the global spotlight as an emerging destination in the Asia-Pacific region.

Under the Phu Quoc project, SITA will deploy an end-to-end suite of airport technologies in the new terminal, providing a fully self-service experience for passengers. Travelers can use automated touchpoints to check in, select seats, print boarding passes and baggage tags, drop off their luggage and board their flight.

The new terminal will feature SITA Flex Hybrid, which supports 204 common passenger processing workstations. To ensure operational resilience, the SITA Local Departure Control System (DCS) will be deployed as a backup.

Passengers will use 150 SITA Smart Path kiosks for check-in, seat selection, boarding pass printing and check-in baggage tagging, 100 SITA Smart Path Bag Drop (Scan & Go) units for self-service bag drop, and 38 dual-lane SITA Smart Path Gates for automated boarding. All systems are seamlessly coordinated via SITA Smart Path Hub biometric technology.

Real-time baggage tracking and reconciliation is made possible through SITA Bag Manager Lite, which supports four baggage workstations and twenty handheld terminals. Airport operations will be supported by the SITA Airport Operational Database (AODB), while passenger information will be managed by SITA AirportVision Evolved, covering 397 displays. Overall airport operations will be controlled by SITA Airport Management, which supports ten operational workstations.

The project, which began development in March 2026, is expected to open in July 2027.

“We are pleased to partner with SITA in this strategic partnership to support the transformation of our airport portfolio. As we continue to invest in world-class aviation infrastructure, SITA’s proven expertise and end-to-end technology capabilities will play a key role in delivering smarter, more efficient and seamless passenger experiences,” said Mr. Nguyen Chi Thanh, President of Sun Group. “This partnership reflects our shared vision of taking Vietnam’s aviation sector to the next level, and we look forward to working closely with SITA to deliver innovative, forward-looking solutions to Phu Quoc and our upcoming airport developments.”

The partnership extends beyond one terminal. Sun Group has appointed SITA as a key strategic technology partner for its broader airport transformation initiative in Vietnam. The operational model established at Phu Quoc will serve as a template for future developments, including Phan Thiet Airport and planned projects in Con Dao and Rach Gia. Over the next five years, Sun Group plans to expand its airport footprint to at least five locations across Vietnam, with each location targeting the 5-star Skytrax standard.

“Vietnam is one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the region, and this partnership with Sun Group marks an important milestone in supporting that growth with future-proof infrastructure. By bringing together SITA’s end-to-end airport technologies, we are delivering smarter, more efficient and scalable airport operations,” said Sumesh Patel, President, Asia Pacific at SITA. “As Phu Quoc develops into a major aviation hub ahead of APEC 2027, we are proud to support Sun Group’s vision to deliver world-class passenger experiences while strengthening connectivity across Vietnam.”

Phu Quoc International Airport will be operated in partnership with Singapore’s Changi Airports International, bringing internationally recognized standards to what is quickly becoming a major leisure destination. The airport upgrade is part of a broader effort to integrate aviation with Sun Group’s tourism and hospitality ecosystem on the island, which includes luxury resorts, entertainment destinations and Sun Phu Quoc Airways, launching in November 2025.

SITA and Sun Group have been working together since 2019, when SITA first delivered airport technology solutions at Van Don Airport. This new agreement deepens that relationship and reflects a shared commitment to advancing air travel infrastructure in Vietnam.