TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A new Vietnamese airline, Sun PhuQuoc Airways, inaugurated its Taipei–Phu Quoc route on Sunday, marking its first international service after launching seven domestic routes within Vietnam.

The airline will operate five direct flights per week between Taiwan and Phu Quoc Island, underscoring its commitment to the Taiwanese tourism market. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at Taoyuan International Airport at 2 p.m., attended by airline executives and government representatives, per Liberty Times. 

Chang Yue-qiang (張越強), deputy general manager of Sun PhuQuoc Airways, said Phu Quoc Island is Vietnam’s only visa-free destination for international tourists. Visitors arriving directly by air or sea are eligible for a 30-day visa-free stay without prior application.

Chang said the flight takes approximately three hours and 50 minutes. The inaugural service carried 193 passengers from Vietnam to Taiwan and 224 passengers on the return leg, resulting in an average load factor of 88%.

Hsu Cheng-yi (許正宜), general manager of the airline’s Taiwan general sales agent, said the carrier was established in January last year by Sun Group. The airline currently operates an Airbus fleet, which includes eight A321 and two A320 aircraft, and aims to expand to 25 planes by the end of the year.

In addition to the Taipei–Phu Quoc route, the airline plans to launch services connecting Phu Quoc with major cities, including Seoul, Busan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Beijing, India, and Kaohsiung.

Hsu added that the Taipei route will be operated using new A321neo aircraft, representing a key milestone in the airline’s international expansion strategy.