A Vietnamese start-up airline has placed orders for extra Boeing B787s for plans of an expanded fleet of long-haul aircraft. The airline in question, Sun PhuQuoc Airways, hopes to fulfil this order of 40 wide-body aircraft as part of the expanded fleet for 100 more B787s by the year 2030.
Global Connectivity
The reason Sun PhuQuoc Airways has placed such a substantial order is that they hope to expand their fleet of aircraft to more than 100 wide-body B787s by 2030, as a way to globally connect long-haul destinations from their main hub in Phu Quoc International Airport (PQC), Vietnam. Some of these destinations are alluded to on the website of their parent company, Sun Group, which includes places like Thailand, India, China and South Korea. The revelation itself came on Feb. 18 when the American manufacturer Boeing secured a $22.5 Billion deal with the Vietnamese start-up airline to acquire an additional 40 wide-body aircraft as part of the large order.
Dang Minh Truong, chairman of the airline’s parent company the Sun Group said:
“We selected the Boeing 787-9 not only for its superior operational performance, but because it is the most suitable aircraft type to realize our vision of bringing Phu Quoc to the world and bringing the world to Phu Quoc.”
Mr. Truong further iterates that this global integration of the expanded fleet of aircraft follows the company’s “resort aviation” business model.
Design Specifications
The B787s are classified as wide-body aircraft designed with twin aisle cabins and are regularly used for international long-haul routes. They can also carry up to 296 passengers at any given time.
Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) expressed favourable sentiments towards the B787:
“The 787-9’s unmatched range, fuel efficiency and passenger comfort will give the airline flexibility to open new long‑haul markets, lower operating costs and contribute to local tourism growth.”
By 2030, Sun PhuQuoc Airways plans to also include – among the 40 B787s in Boeing’s order – a group of 60 Airbus narrow body aircraft to meet their goal of having 100 aircraft in their fleet altogether.
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