Operating state-of the-art jets, helicopters and hydroplanes, Sun Air becomes the first airline in Vietnam to exclusively cater for the luxury travel segment, specifically targeting domestic and international jet setters and high-fliers who seek ‘the best of the best’ when taking to the skies.
Whether they’re travelling for business or pleasure, or a little of both, Sun Air’s passengers will certainly get to travel in the lap of luxury while reclining in a Gulfstream G650ER or a Gulfstream G700, the kind of cutting edge business jets beloved by billionaires, such as Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.
Sun Air’s helicopters and hydroplanes will also mean luxury tourists can enjoy unique views of some of Vietnam’s most breathtaking landscapes, such as Halong Bay, Sapa and Phu Quoc.
The launch of the airline comes at a time when there is growing demand world-wide for more exclusive and private travel experiences, a trend which has been accelerated by the two-year long pandemic. According to a market research report by the aviation consulting firm ARGUS International, private aviation has recovered faster than many other industries. Indeed, private jet travel has increased by 15% compared to the period before the pandemic.
“We’re extremely excited to launch Sun Air, which will be a pioneer for luxury air travel in Vietnam and across the region,” says Mr. Dang Minh Truong - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sun Group.
“The airline is the latest stage in our sustainable development plan for Sun Group. It will be a key part of our ecosystem of ‘Quality - Excellent - Distinguished’ products and services and further contribute to the development of the luxury travel segment in Vietnam, a country which now attracts wealthy tourists from all around the world.”
According to Truong, Sun Air will connect all of the best products within Sun Group's ecosystem of luxury resorts, entertainment complexes and real estate products. In doing so, Sun Group now boast “the first self-contained, safe, comfortable and private luxury tourism experience in Vietnam.” To make the most of the private jet charter segment, Sun Air will develop numerous routes to bring luxury passengers to many major markets around the world, using the Gulfstream G650ER and Gulfstream G700 jets, the fastest, high-altitude, long-range jet aircrafts in the world today with a range of up to 51,000ft (15,545m) and up to 7,500 nautical miles (13,890km). Speed-wise the jets can go up to 0.925 Mach (1,142km/h), meaning they can make a nonstop flight from Hanoi to Los Angeles in about 12.5-13 hours.
Gulfstream G650ER jets can accommodate up to 17 seated passengers or 6-8 sleeping passengers, while Gulfstream G700 jets can carry up to 21 seated passengers and come equipped with beds for 10 people. One of the other highlights of this aircraft is its ability to provide 100% continuous fresh air and low cabin pressure even at the maximum altitude, making this the quietest cabin in commercial aviation and giving the pilot a comfortable experience without any feeling of fatigue, tinnitus, or dizziness that other conventional planes cause.
According to its development schedule, Sun Air will initially operate two Gulfstream G650ER business jets from the third quarter of 2022. Between 2023 and 2025, the airline will put two more Gulfstream G650ER aircraft, one Gulfstream G700 aircraft, one helicopter and two hydroplanes into operation.
In the future, Sun Air plans to add ultra-large and ultra-long range aircraft to its fleet, including some of the world’s most luxurious business jets like Boeing BBJ and the Airbus ACJ. To provide helicopters and hydroplanes for tourism and sightseeing services, Sun Air will also be collaborating with the most famous brands in the world such as Agusta, Airbus, Sikorsky, De Havilland Canada and Cessna, the aircraft manufacturer of the US Textron Corporation, in order to provide a unique aerial visiting experience for luxury travellers.
In order to elevate customers' flying experience to the next level, Sun Air has also chosen to partner with the world's leading flight service providers such as Gulfstream Aerospace and Jet Aviation. These are two of the brands belonging to General Dynamics Group, which boasts more than 65 years of experience in the aviation field and has headquarters in nearly 50 countries.
By collaborating with some in the leading luxury aviation brands, undoubtedly the birth of Sun Air will elevate high-end air travel in Vietnam while flying the flag for this S-shaped country’s the luxury tourism sector.
Sun Air will also be the perfect strategic addition to the multi-industry ecosystem of Sun Group, one of Vietnam’s premier developers, who have created some of the country’s most prestigious tourism brands and award-winning landmarks, including Sun World’s entertainment parks (Sapa, Phu Quoc, Halong, Ba Na), Sun Hospitality Group’s resorts and hotels (including InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay, Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery in Sapa) and Sun Property (high-class real estate and resort tourism) as well as modern infrastructures, such as Van Don International Airport and Halong International Cruise Port.
