Vietnam’s SAGS secures United Airlines deal, eyes new growth cycle at Long Thanh int’l airport

At its annual shareholders’ meeting on Wednesday, SAGS leaders said the company is entering a new growth cycle by diversifying its customer base.

SAGS, a subsidiary of the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), last year signed or expanded agreements with 12 carriers and partners at Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang, and Cam Ranh airports.

During the first months of 2026, the Vietnamese ground handling company added more customers across all three airports, generating tens of billions of Vietnamese dong in additional monthly revenue. [VND1 billion = US$38,000]

SAGS Chairman Nguyen Cao Cuong said the company’s strategy of diversifying its customer base is laying the groundwork for deeper participation in the international aviation market, particularly among long-haul carriers.

He emphasized that securing a deal with United Airlines was a milestone.

“To sign with a major carrier like United Airlines, we had to demonstrate full capacity in safety, security, staffing, equipment, and operations,” he said.

The deal not only generates direct revenue but also strengthens SAGS’s credibility with other long-haul carriers from the U.S. and Europe.

In the domestic market, SAGS has also signed a service contract with Sun PhuQuoc Airways, a subsidiary under Vietnamese conglomerate Sun Group.

The ground handling provider said both Da Nang and Cam Ranh international airports, located in central Vietnam, still offer significant growth opportunities as international routes, particularly from Northeast Asia, continue to recover.

The company acknowledged that Vietnamese budget carrier Vietjet’s decision to self-handle ground services at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in April 2025 required adjustments.

Instead of relying on one major client, SAGS expanded its customer portfolio to reduce dependency.

SAGS is investing heavily in readiness for Long Thanh International Airport, a national key project located in Dong Nai City and scheduled to open in December 2026.

The company plans to allocate approximately VND53 billion ($2 million) this year for personnel, equipment, and systems at Long Thanh International Airport.

SAGS staff and vehicles will be deployed to Long Thanh airport by September to participate in trial flights and operational testing.

Cuong added that Long Thanh airport is designed to handle wide-body aircraft and long-haul international routes.

“We must be ready when the airport opens, not start preparing afterward,” he said.

In 2025, SAGS reported consolidated revenue of nearly VND1.545 trillion ($58.65 million), exceeding its plan by 11 percent, and after-tax profit of more than VND208 billion ($7.9 million), surpassing its target by 31 percent.

SAGS is also aligning with the Airports Corporation of Vietnam, which is investing in 80 electric vehicles for Long Thanh.

The ground handling company aims to electrify most of its ground service equipment within five years to meet technical and safety standards.