Phu Quoc International Aiport’s first international flight landed on February 14. The route was KAR 2531 of Russian airline IKAR and carried 250 passengers.
Passengers from Turkey’s Pegas Touristik Company and Anh Duong Tourist Company will take a 12-day trip in Phu Quoc. The other 200 passengers are visiting the coastal city of Nha Trang.
A direct flight from Russia to Phu Quoc will be in service four times a week by the end of 2014, said Murrat Asin, representative of Turkey’s Pegas Touristik Company. These routes will use Boeing 757 aircrafts.
The country has a high number of Russian tourists however Phu Quoc currently does not have the accommodations for the influx of visitors. Cost of accommodations in Phu Quoc is at a higher price than Nha Trang and Phan Thiet.
Completion of the 110-kV Ha Tien—Phu Quoc underwater cable system will contribute in the development of the island’s tourism, said Deputy Chairman of Kien Giang Province People’s Committee Lam Hoang Sa. He hopes to expand the number of international flights through Phu Quoc.
Domestic airlines including Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air and Jetstar Pacific currently operate 25 flights using A321, A320 and ATR72 aircrafts to Phu Quoc.
Phu Quoc International Airport in Kien Giang Province opened in November 2008 costing VND16,206 billion (US$777 million) and covers an area of 905 hectares.
The first phase of the project has been completed at a cost of VND3 trillion ($144 million) after four years of construction. The opening ceremony was on Dec. 15, 2012.
The airport received about 700,000 passengers in 2013.
