Vietnam's Sun PhuQuoc Airways expands amid A321neo engine shortage

Sun PhuQuoc Airways, the new carrier of Vietnam's Sun Group, plans to grow its fleet to 32 aircraft by the end of 2026, including 40 Boeing jets ordered for delivery from 2031 and an Airbus A330 slated for 2026. The airline has launched routes from its Phú Quốc hub to major domestic cities and several Asian international markets such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Chengdu, with further plans for Malaysia, Japan, India, Russia and Kazakhstan.

At the same time, Vietnam's civil aviation authority reports that 17 Airbus A321neo jets are grounded for the long term because of a shortage of Pratt & Whitney engines. The problem is part of a wider global crisis that has left more than 800 aircraft of the Airbus A320neo family without usable engines, pushing repair times from the usual 90 days to 250‑300 days. The shortage is expected to linger through 2026 and may not be resolved until 2027, affecting airline scheduling and causing cascading delays.

Vietnam now has 280 aircraft on its registry – 252 fixed‑wing and 28 helicopters – and operates 109 international routes to 22 countries. International passenger traffic reached 26.2 million in the first half of 2026, up 15.4 % year‑on‑year, while domestic traffic stayed roughly flat. The engine deficit and rapid market growth place added pressure on airport infrastructure, staffing and operational safety.