The inaugural flight departed HCM City at 3.30 pm carrying 216 passengers and landed at Van Don International Airport at 5.30 pm. The return flight, carrying 198 passengers, departed Van Don at 6.10 pm and arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport at 8.30 pm.
Launch-day flights recorded load factors of more than 90 per cent, reflecting strong demand between southern Vietnam and the northeastern region.
The service operates four round trips weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The airline plans to increase the frequency to daily flights from August.
The new route provides a direct air link between southern Vietnam and Quang Ninh, improving access to one of northern Vietnam's fastest-growing tourism destinations.
From Van Don, travellers can easily reach attractions including Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay and a range of resorts, entertainment complexes and night-time tourism offerings.
To mark the launch, Sun PhuQuoc Airways is offering promotional benefits under its "One Ticket, Millions of Joys" programme from June 15 to July 15.
Passengers travelling on the HCM City-Van Don route can receive discounts on selected tourism, accommodation and dining services in Quang Ninh upon presenting their boarding pass or e-ticket.
The airline plans to launch three additional domestic routes in July, including Hanoi-Nha Trang, HCM City-Haiphong and Haiphong-Phu Quoc.
