At 4:40 a.m. on 16 October 2026, a Sun PhuQuoc Airways (SPA) Airbus A320neo landed smoothly at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, marking the official launch of the airline’s daily nonstop service between Shanghai and Ho Chi Minh City. Following earlier routes connecting Chengdu, the addition of Shanghai marks a key milestone in expanding the airline’s footprint across China while delivering flexible travel options between two prominent economic and trade hubs.
Shanghai becomes a daily hub in SPA’s China network
Following the launch of direct flights from Phu Quoc and Ho Chi Minh City to Chengdu in July and August, SPA continues to scale its operations across China with the Shanghai – Ho Chi Minh City route. While Chengdu anchors the airline’s access to Western China, Shanghai establishes direct air connectivity with one of the country’s most vital financial and commercial centers.
On the night of October 15, flight 9G634 departed Ho Chi Minh City at 23:40 and landed at Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 04:40 on October 16. The return flight, 9G635, took off at 05:40 and arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport at 09:05 on the same day (all local times). The daily service offers regular, reliable direct transit for business travelers and tourists alike.
This schedule allows passengers to optimize their business and leisure itineraries while seamlessly transferring to subsequent domestic connections across Vietnam.
To commemorate the inaugural flight, SPA has launched the “Explore Ho Chi Minh City” (探索胡志明市) promotional campaign. Passengers booking between September 29 and October 29, 2026, via SPA’s official website and mobile app can enjoy one-way fares starting from 500 RMB for travel through October 2026, and from 640 RMB for travel in November and December 2026 (taxes and fees included).
To deliver a seamless booking experience for Chinese travelers, SPA has fully localized its website and mobile app, integrating native payment gateways including WeChat Pay, Alipay, and UnionPay. Travelers can effortlessly book flights, process payments, and complete online check-in directly through the airline’s digital platforms.
Expanding network powered by a multi-tiered fleet
Looking ahead, SPA plans to inaugurate direct services connecting Hanoi and Phu Quoc with Shanghai. The airline is also actively assessing routes linking Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Phu Quoc with key outbound gateways such as Shenzhen, Beijing, and Chongqing. These strategic routes aim to capture evolving market demand and channel passenger traffic from China’s major population centers directly to premier destinations in Vietnam.
This network expansion is underpinned by a structured, multi-tiered fleet development strategy. While the Airbus A320 and A321 families anchor Vietnamese domestic and regional services, the A321LR enables medium-haul range expansion. The airline’s first wide-body Airbus A330 (registration VN-A969) joined the fleet on September 22 and entered commercial service in early October. This aircraft type bolsters long-haul capacity and allows agile allocation of seat inventory based on specific market needs. Furthermore, the firm order of 40 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners finalized in February 2026 will serve as the backbone for intercontinental routes in the next development phase. SPA expects to scale its fleet to 33 aircraft by the end of 2026—including five A330 wide-body jets—on track to reach 100 aircraft by 2030.
By maintaining daily operations to Chengdu and Shanghai alongside pipeline additions across key Chinese cities, SPA continues to build a resilient network tailored to bilateral travel demand. The expansion of direct frequencies and destinations, backed by an expanding modern fleet, promises to spur trade, cross-border business, and leisure tourism, further strengthening ties between Vietnam and China.
In 2026, Sun PhuQuoc Airways received its first recognition at the World Airline Awards presented by international air transport rating organization Skytrax, winning the title of World’s Best Leisure Airline in Asia 2026. The airline also made its debut in the world’s top 100 airlines, ranking 99th, and placed fifth in the World’s Most Improved Airlines category.
These achievements reflect Sun PhuQuoc Airways’ continued progress in operational capabilities, service quality and passenger experience. They also underscore the airline’s distinctive development approach, built around its “Resort in the Sky” concept, which brings together air travel and destination experiences.
