Boeing (NYSE:BA) secured a historic foothold in Southeast Asia’s rapidly expanding aviation market as Vietnamese startup Sun PhuQuoc Airways placed an order for 40 787-9 Dreamliner jets.
The agreement, signed Wednesday in Washington, D.C., during a state visit by Vietnamese General Secretary To Lam, represents the largest widebody aircraft purchase in Vietnam’s history.
The 787-9 fleet will serve as the long-haul backbone for the fledgling carrier, which is owned by the real estate and leisure giant Sun Group.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways, which only commenced commercial operations in late 2025, is pursuing an aggressive "resort aviation" strategy.
By leveraging the 7,565-nautical-mile range of the 787-9, the airline intends to bypass traditional hubs like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, instead flying tourists directly from North America, Europe, and the Middle East to its hub at Phu Quoc International Airport.
For Boeing, the deal provides a significant boost to its widebody backlog as the manufacturer works to stabilize production following years of regulatory and quality-control scrutiny.