Sun Group & SITA automate Phu Quoc airport terminal

Sun Group has partnered with SITA to automate passenger processing at Phu Quoc International Airport's new Terminal 2, a project intended to raise annual capacity to 24 million passengers.

The agreement also sets a framework for broader collaboration across Sun Group's planned airport developments in Vietnam, extending the relationship beyond Phu Quoc. The model used at the island airport is expected to be applied at other sites, including Phan Thiet Airport and planned projects in Con Dao and Rach Gia.

Work on the terminal began in March 2026, and the facility is due to open in July 2027. Over the longer term, the airport is being designed to scale to 50 million passengers a year.

At the centre of the project is a self-service passenger journey covering check-in, seat selection, boarding pass and bag tag printing, baggage drop, and boarding. SITA is supplying the systems for each stage as Vietnam expands aviation infrastructure to meet rising travel demand and tourism growth.

The terminal will use SITA Flex Hybrid with 204 common-use workstations for passenger processing. SITA Local Departure Control System will serve as a backup.

Passengers will have access to 150 SITA Smart Path kiosks for check-in, seat selection, boarding pass printing, and bag tagging. The baggage process will include 100 SITA Smart Path Bag Drop units, while 38 dual-lane SITA Smart Path Gates will be used for boarding, coordinated through the company's biometric Smart Path Hub.

Baggage operations will also use SITA Bag Manager Lite, with four baggage workstations and 20 handheld terminals for tracking and reconciliation. Wider airport operations will be managed through SITA Airport Operational Database, SITA AirportVision Evolved across 397 displays, and SITA Airport Management with ten operational workstations.

Broader plans

The Phu Quoc project is part of a wider push by Sun Group to expand its presence in airport infrastructure. Over the next five years, the group aims to increase its airport footprint to at least five locations in Vietnam.

That plan ties aviation to the company's broader tourism and hospitality interests on Phu Quoc island, where it has invested in resorts, entertainment assets, and Sun Phu Quoc Airways. The airport itself will be operated in partnership with Singapore's Changi Airports International.

Sun Group and SITA have worked together since 2019, when SITA supplied airport technology at Van Don Airport. The latest agreement deepens that relationship as Vietnam positions itself for higher passenger volumes and greater international visibility.

Phu Quoc has become an increasingly prominent leisure destination, and the airport upgrade comes as the island prepares to play a larger role in regional travel. The scale of the planned terminal makes the project one of the more ambitious aviation developments in the country.

For SITA, the deal expands its presence in one of the region's fastest-growing air travel markets. The Phu Quoc operating model could also become a template for future airport developments backed by Sun Group.

"We are pleased to partner with SITA on this strategic collaboration to support the transformation of our airport portfolio. As we continue to invest in world-class aviation infrastructure, SITA's proven expertise and end-to-end technology capabilities will play a key role in helping us deliver smarter, more efficient, and seamless passenger experiences," said Mr. Nguyen Chi Thanh, President, Sun Group. "This partnership reflects our shared vision of elevating Vietnam's aviation sector, and we look forward to working closely with SITA to bring innovative, future-ready solutions to Phu Quoc and our upcoming airport developments."

The companies described the arrangement as both an airport delivery project and a longer-term technology partnership. By establishing common systems and operating processes at Phu Quoc, Sun Group aims to create a repeatable structure for future airport sites under its control.

"Vietnam is one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the region, and this partnership with Sun Group marks a key milestone in supporting that growth with future-ready infrastructure. By bringing together SITA's end-to-end airport technologies, we are delivering smarter, more efficient, and scalable airport operations," said Patel. "As Phu Quoc evolves into a key aviation hub ahead of APEC 2027, we are proud to support Sun Group's vision of delivering world-class passenger experiences while strengthening connectivity across Vietnam."