The Airbus A330-243 VN-A969, the first widebody aircraft for Sun PhuQuoc Airways (SPA), landed this Monday, September 21, at Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) and was parked on the cargo apron. It arrived from Marana Pinal Airpark (MZJ), Arizona, on ferry flight 9G9969. The stop is the first leg of the ferry flight of an A330 that American Airlines retired in 2020 and that is now on its way to Vietnam.
The aircraft, MSN 1415, made its first flight in April 2013 and US Airways took delivery of it in May as N286AY. After the merger it moved to American in December 2013, which retired it on March 13, 2020, and sent it to long-term storage in Roswell (ROW), although it was later moved to Marana. In 2025 it was registered under Jetran LLC. It is about 13 years old and has spent nearly half its life on the ground.
SPA bought eight A330-200s from that batch (all ex US Airways / American, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 772B-60 engines) to have its own widebody capacity while it waits for the Boeing 787-9s. The Dreamliner order, for up to 40 aircraft, was announced in February 2026; deliveries are not expected before 2031. The A330s are the bridge.
Which aircraft became Sun PhuQuoc Airways’ first widebody?
An Airbus A330-243 registered VN-A969, MSN 1415, ex American Airlines.
Where was the aircraft stored before its ferry flight to Vietnam?
It was stored in Roswell (ROW) and later at Marana Pinal Airpark (MZJ), Arizona.
How many Airbus A330-200s did SPA buy and why?
It bought eight ex US Airways/American A330-200s to operate widebody capacity while it waits for the Boeing 787-9s.
How are the seats distributed in the cabin SPA will keep?
C20 W21 Y206: 20 in Business, 21 in Premium Economy and 206 in Economy, for a total of 247 seats.
What is Sun PhuQuoc Airways’ main base?
Phu Quoc is its main hub, with bases in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
The airline had said the first two were to arrive in Vietnam in September and enter service right away. This is one of those eight; two more will be added in October and December, while the rest will follow in the first four months of 2027.
The cabin American left ready
The configuration American installed in 2018, shortly before retiring the type, and which SPA will keep, is C20 W21 Y206, for a total of 247 seats across three cabins.
Business (20). Rows 1 to 5, 1-2-1 layout, seats A-C and F-H. They are Safran Cirrus pods in a reverse herringbone arrangement, with direct aisle access and a 180° full‑lie‑flat recline. About 20.5 inches (52 cm) wide. Screen, AC and USB power at every seat. Despite the age of the product, for SPA it is a step up in quality, since the Business cabin on its A321s is less capable.
NeverNotFlying by Sieto – YouTube
Premium Economy (21). Rows 6 to 8, 2-3-2, 38-inch (96.5 cm) pitch and 18.5-inch (47 cm) width. A separate cabin, not an extra-legroom block of economy. SPA is introducing it on its network for the first time as “Premium”.
Economy (206). From row 9, 2-4-2 layout, 31–32 inch pitch. American also offered a Main Cabin Extra subset (about 50–54 seats) with more space or a preferred position, but it is still unclear whether SPA will sell that upsell or standardize the entire economy cabin. The airline promises a personal screen in all three cabins, with Vietnamese and international content.
That cabin (full-flat business, a true premium economy and a 2-4-2 economy) is precisely what makes the batch attractive, since these are 12–13 year old aircraft, lightly used in the second half of their lives and with a relatively fresh premium retrofit at the time of retirement.
SPA belongs to Sun Group and started flying on November 1, 2025. In ten months it assembled a fleet of the A320/A321 family and positioned itself as a leisure airline with Phu Quoc as its axis, plus bases in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The A330s are meant to take it from a regional network to medium and long haul.
The plan the company designed is based on strengthening South Korea and opening or expanding Russia and Kazakhstan with the first aircraft; in 2027, Japan and Australia, with studies toward Europe (the Czech Republic and Poland, among others). Phu Quoc remains the hub of that expansion.