Sun Group taps Changi unit to run Vietnam’s key airport for Apec forum in 2027

[HO CHI MINH CITY] Vietnamese developer Sun Group has partnered Singapore’s Changi Airports International (CAI) to operate Phu Quoc International Airport.

This comes as Vietnam aims to upgrade its key gateway infrastructure at the host city of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum in 2027 and position Phu Quoc – its largest island, in the southern province of An Giang – as a regional tourism hub.

Under the agreement signed on Saturday (Mar 21), CAI, a unit of Singapore’s Changi Airport Group, will be involved in various stages of the airport’s development, from design advisory and operational planning to system implementation and full-scale management.

CAI will also develop international flight networks, in addition to a commercial ecosystem of retail, food and beverage, and duty-free services at the airport.

The partners plan to upgrade the Phu Quoc International Airport to meet “Changi standards”. This, they said in a joint statement, is a benchmark associated with the “airport destination” model that combines transport infrastructure with attractions, iconic architecture, retail, entertainment and large-scale events.

This approach is aimed at extending visitor stays, increasing tourism spending, and positioning Phu Quoc as a new aviation and tourism hub in the Asia-Pacific region.

The deal comes as Sun Group accelerates a major expansion of the airport, including a second runway, a new Terminal 2 and a VIP terminal, in preparation to host the Apec meetings on the island next year.

Capacity is targeted at 24 million passengers annually upon completion, with longer-term potential to reach 50 million, placing it among Vietnam’s largest international gateways alongside Tan Son Nhat, Noi Bai and Long Thanh airports.

Sun Group was selected by provincial authorities as the investor for the airport’s expansion project in June 2025, before taking over operations at the start of 2026.

SEE ALSO

Vietnam braces for flight cuts from April after China, Thailand ban jet fuel exports

Vietnam’s aircraft orders are soaring. Now it wants the financing at home

Vietnam’s Sun Group injects 1 trillion dong into new leisure-focused airline

The partnership with CAI forms part of the Vietnamese group’s broader strategy to integrate aviation with its tourism and hospitality ecosystem on Phu Quoc, including luxury resorts, entertainment complexes and a newly launched leisure-focused airline, Sun PhuQuoc Airways.

Elsewhere in South-east Asia, CAI has been involved in the management of Clark International Airport in the Philippines and Komodo Airport in Indonesia; it has also provided services to airports in Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam.

Globally, CAI’s Changi-standard portfolio spans more than 20 countries and over 60 airports, including projects in Brazil, China and Japan.