Start-up Vietnamese carrier Sun PhuQuoc has ordered up to 40 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and signaled its intent to serve the U.S.
The airline, which is based out of the the emerging Vietnamese island resort destination of Phu Quoc, began service on Nov. 1 and currently operates a fleet of 10 Airbus narrowbodies, serving domestic destinations and flying short-haul international routes. The carrier is owned by Vietnamese real estate and resort developer Sun Group.
In an announcement on Feb. 19, Sun PhuQuoc said the Dreamliner will enable it to fly nonstop to the U.S. as well as to the U.K., France, Germany, Eastern Europe and the Caucuses, the Middle East, Japan and Australia.
"Expanded connectivity will serve as a powerful catalyst for tourism, investment and trade flows between Vietnam and the United States," the airline said.
At present, only Vietnam Airlines flies nonstop between the two countries, connecting Ho Chi Minh City with San Francisco.
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Boeing and Sun PhuQuoc did not say how many of the up to 40 Dreamliners the airline has ordered are firm commitments and how many are purchase options. They also did not provide a delivery timeline.
Sun PhuQuoc has laid out plans to expand its overall fleet to 100 aircraft by 2030.
Vietnam, Boeing said, is forecast to be Southeast Asia's fastest-growing aviation market in the coming years, with annual passenger growth of nearly 8% by 2030.