Cambodia Aviation News and Discussion

[AsianDragons]

^ Its the figure for the first quarter

[KlaKhmer]

Originally Posted by AsianDragons

^ Its the figure for the first quarter

You are right ! Thank you

[AsianDragons]

http://www.eturbonews.com/16083/meko...sport-thailand

Will Thailand’s status as the natural gateway to the Greater Mekong Sub-Region be soon passé? The question would have raised scepticism or even sarcasm a decade ago. But today, the Kingdom’s lasting political instability might indeed endanger the role it has played to build up the Mekong community. At the Mekong Tourism Forum, officials felt rather uncomfortable to tell their opinion. But by carefully analyzing answers provided by NTOs of each country, the conclusion is simple: everyone tends to recommend alternative gateways to come into the area, despite the attempt by Mrs. Runjuang Tongkrut, director for the policy planning division at the Tourism Authority of Thailand, to reassure the tourism community. “No tourists have been targeted so far by the various political incidents. The protests [have] take[n] place in a small area of Bangkok, and the rest of the Kingdom – including our airports - is safe for travel,” she indicated.

But unfortunately, most visitors would rather avoid a country where instability turns chronic. Such a point of view is comprehensible. Especially as the spectrum of the closure of both Bangkok’s airports in December 2008 continues to haunt both consumers and officials. “We rely a lot on Thailand for incoming overseas travelers. We advise our potential travelers to look at all options such as Malaysia and Singapore,” said Mr. Htay Aung, director, general ministry of hotels and tourism in Myanmar. Laos and Myanmar are indeed the most dependant countries in terms of air access from Thailand. In Cambodia, alternatives are easier as many airlines from ASEAN, and also China and Korea, now operate on a daily basis to both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap international airports.

Vietnam is probably the least dependent in the region on Thailand’s troubles. For Mr. Tran Phong Binh, head of the overseas market division at the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, Vietnam is lucky to have “a strong airline with a comprehensive international network.” Yunnan or Guangxi are also less dependant on Bangkok as a main gateway for air travelers, as good connections exist via Vietnam or China’s major airports.

Thailand’s lack of fortune could even be perceived as the necessary incentive for governments in Indochina to upgrade their airlines or to become more flexible in according traffic rights. Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar have no intercontinental flights for the time: Bangkok’s situation might pressure their respective government to allow their national airline to venture overseas.

The step could help to diminish the risk of relying too much on Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport as a transfer point. In fact, even transiting via Thailand is turning more complicated due to travel warnings issued by 47 countries – including Vietnam! “Travel warning plays a devastating role for us. For example, as a Laos-based company, we lose many groups, as tour operators from foreign countries do not want to take the risk to financially support themselves [or] tourists in the case of a problem occurring. They [would] rather prefer to cancel,” said Vianney Catteau from Green Discovery, an agency based in Vientiane.

The evolution of Thailand tourist arrivals in 2010 will also certainly influence total arrivals to the Greater Mekong sub-region. “We now expect to receive 14 million tourists, roughly the same number than in 2009. We will then rely more on domestic tourism, which could generate this year some 97 million trips,” said Mrs. Tongkrut. Thailand will certainly lose some market share to other countries as a gateway to the GMS. For now - at least in the short term - Thailand will continue to hold its position as a Mekong regional hub. “This is still the best connected airport in the region with the most extensive network to Europe and excellent connections to Australia or the USA,” said Luzi Matzig from Asian Trails. But the competition will turn increasingly ferocious.

[AsianDragons]

Samart seeking partner for Cambodia air-traffic venture Burma and Laos expansion targets

Bangkokpost Published: 24/05/2010 at 12:00 AM


Samart Corporation, the country's leading communications equipment firm, is in negotiations with a few prospective foreign partners for a joint venture in its air traffic management services in Cambodia.


Foreign shareholding in CATS would be capped at 40%, says Mr Watchai.
The strategic move is in preparation for listing its Cambodia Air Traffic Services (CATS) Co on the local stock market to raise capital by the end of this year.

The wholly owned subsidiary of Samart is also moving aggressively to expand its air traffic control services into Burma and Laos this year to increase overseas revenue.

Watchai Vilailuck, the president of Samart Corp, said three to four potential air traffic management companies in Europe have expressed interests to purchase shares in CATS for a partnership. He declined to specify names but said the firms are the world's leading business scale.

"A conclusion is expected to be settled soon. We would limit the maximum foreign shareholding at 40% in CATS," he said in an interview.

Mr Watchai said seeking a strategic partner was primarily intended to further expand business into other countries and develop business portfolio.

Listing CATS on the fledgling Cambodian stock exchange, meanwhile, is aimed at increasing liquidity, broadening service availability in the market and enhancing its financial standing. It also gives investors in Cambodia an opportunity to acquire shares in the company.

The proceeds from the listing would be used for business expansion and development, he added.

Mr Watchai said air traffic control service was a cash cow for Samart, thanks to its sustainable long-term growth in revenue and profit.

The company had already reached the break-even point after a one-time investment of $30 million during the startup, he added.

CATS was granted an exclusive 32-year licence by the Cambodia government under a build-operate-transfer agreement to develop and operate the entire civil air traffic control and navigation system in Cambodia.

CATS posted $3 million in net profit in 2009. The company earned US$23.07 million in revenue last year, compared with $12.6 million in the first year of its licence in 2002. Its first-quarter revenue this year was $6.27 million.

The company managed 47,476 flights last year, compared with 31,425 flights in 2002. The flight number in the first quarter of this year totalled 12,724.

Mr Watchai said CATS expected revenue to grow by 10% this year, thanks to a recovering global economy and a surge in tourist numbers in Cambodia.

The company is spending $7 million to expand its radar system and navigation platform in Sihanu city to broaden its service network.

CATS now operates air traffic control services at domestic and international airports in eight cities in Cambodia.

"We are looking to expand our air traffic control service in other countries in Indochina to increase revenue from overseas businesses," Mr Watchai said.

Stolen from Napoleon in the Thai Forum
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...1018719&page=3

[yangkhm]

Service in Cambodia is bad but better than Vietnam. I remember that when I went to give a check of my passport in Tan Son Nhat International Airport, all staffs have no smile, they asked me with the strange face, Not friendly and welcome at all. In Thailand Service is very good.

[AsianDragons]

Singapore Changi Airport and Singapore Airlines, have the best services to Cambodia

[AsianDragons]

A new carrier may fly to Cambodia in the near future!

Phongsavanh Airlines is a new Laos based airline with an order for three jet aircraft from the Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Corporation of Russia.
It is understood that the airline will receive the three aircraft in early 2012 with the Sukhoi jets havng seating capacity for 98 passengers. Phongsavanh Airlines currently operates a 19-seat aircraft between Vientiane and the provinces of Xayaboury, Huaphan and Phongsaly. With the new jets the airline is planning flights to Thailand, Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore and other countries in the region.

Phongsavanh Airlines plans to buy a further three Sukhoi aircraft whilst competitor Lao airlines has ordered two ARJ21-700 jet aircraft from the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd,

Lao Airlines is the national flag carrier of Laos, formerly known as Lao Aviation. It has eight aircraft – four MA60, two ATR72-200, and two new TR72-500 bought from France last year. They fly to four international and seven domestic locations. It offers flights to and from Luang Prabang, Xieng Khuang, Oudomxay, Luang Namtha, Bokeo, Savannakhet and Champassak provinces. International destinations are Cambodia, China, Thailand and Vietnam.

Phongsavanh Group is a multi-sector conglomerate with enterprises in international trading, timber, hospitality, telecommunications, banking, airlines and security products and services, according to the group’s website.

http://www.alternativeairlines.com/n...avanh-airlines

[Asian]

Anybody has the pictures of the newly built parallel taxiway at the Phnom Penh International airport?

[AsianDragons]

Tourism Showing the Strain From Thai Crisis

With Thailand in the grips of a sustained political crisis, the Cambodian government has had to seek new strategies to draw in tourists and avoid relying on Bangkok as a gateway. But at least some damage has already been done.

Typically, around 40 percent of Cambodia’s 2 million visitors come through Thailand. But Tourism Minister Thong Khon told VOA Khmer that number is decreasing.

“Because of the situation in Thailand, we’re promoting other entrances,” he said. “In the past, we’ve advertised only on CNN in Europe and CNN in Asia, but in the near future we will advertise on CNN in America. And we have to promote direct flights and strengthen the quality of tourism services like food and accommodation.”

Cambodia is looking to Malaysia, Singapore, China, Hong Kong and Vietnam as places where tourists might fly in from, in an industry that remains one of the country’s top earners.

Nearly 2.2 million people visited Cambodia last year, a small increase from the year before. About 1 million of those came from Thailand, either by air or road.

But a prolonged political protest there that ended in violence last week has caused a significant reduction at the land border of Poipet—where about 10 percent of travelers typically pass. Border officials there say the number of tourists coming each day has dropped from about 900 to 600.

Meanwhile, national hotel bookings have fallen between 10 percent and 15 percent, especially in Siem Reap, said Lu Meng, president of the Cambodia Hotel Association. He worries government strategies to improve the situation won’t take effect until next year or so. For now, he said, improved tourism depends on an improved Thai situation.

However, it is not yet clear how much Cambodia has lost since unrest began in Thailand.

Tourism, garment manufacturing and construction together make up a third of Cambodia’s $10 billion GDP, but the tourism sector here remains much smaller than in neighboring Vietnam and Thailand, which receive up to 10 million visitors a year each.

The political crisis in Thailand has hit an industry that was already hurt from the global economic downturn.

Now there are signs that more people have begun using alternative routes, including the border crossing in Svay Rieng province, where about 31,000 people crossed in April, roughly 4,000 more than the month before.

“When Thailand became an insecure entrance, a number of tourists used the safer entrance from Vietnam,” said Mam Yoy, deputy chief of the Bavet border office in Svay Rieng province.

Ho Polend, a ticket seller for Malaysian airlines, experienced a similar uptick.

“Since there’s been a crisis in Thailand, our round trip flights are full,” she said. “Before, it was only 50 percent to 60 percent of passengers, but now it’s up to 90 percent. Our boss said we plan to increase the number of flights from one flight a day to two or three flights, based on the number of passengers.”

More incoming flights from other countries could prove problematic for the overall promotion of tourism here, however, because their prices are higher than Thai carriers, said Ang Kim Eang, president of the Cambodia Association of Tourism Agencies.

Thong Khon said an increase in direct flights could help. He expects tourism numbers to increase around 10 percent this year, still below the norm before the global economic crisis.

Cambodia currently has direct flights from Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

And Thong Khon said he expects Cambodia to benefit from an increasing number of Chinese and Indian visitors of the next 10 years

http://www1.voanews.com/khmer-englis...-94913769.html

[party_animals]

What is Cambodia's national airline anyway???

[Asian]

Originally Posted by party_animals

What is Cambodia's national airline anyway???

It is now Cambodia Angkor Air, which owned partly by Cambodia government and the Vietnamese state own Vietnam Airlines. In fact, all the airplanes are registered for Vietnam Airlines, not Cambodia Angkor Air.

[khmerpride]

Any Photos of Angkor Airline



And food

[AsianDragons]

Emirates SkyCargo appoints Asia GSA in Cambodia

Emirates SkyCargo has expanded its operations to Cambodia after a surge in demand for reliable air cargo services from the southeast Asian nation. The Dubai based carrier has appointed Asia GSA as its sales agent in Cambodia.

In recent years the Cambodian garment industry has grown exponentially as an increasing number of manufacturers, including brands like GAP, Old Navy, Wal-Mart and Kmart, look to the country to produce quality clothing at cheaper rates than in Europe, the US or even some other Asian countries. It is now the biggest industry in Cambodia, accounting for a whopping 70 per cent of the country’s exports.

As Emirates does not yet operate its own flights into Cambodia, cargo – predominantly garments, textiles and shoes – will be flown to nearby Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, from where Emirates SkyCargo operates 28 and 21 flights a week to Dubai respectively. From Dubai goods are shipped onward to more than 100 destinations around the globe.

Ram Menen, Emirates’ Divisional Vice President Cargo, said, “Emirates SkyCargo’s frequent connections to Cambodia’s key export markets such as the US, UK and Germany means producers can rest easy in the knowledge that their goods will reach their customers swiftly and securely. And our new partnership with Asia GSA has just made it even easier for them to capitalise on our extensive network.”

Simon Ang, Asia GSA President, said: “Emirates SkyCargo is renowned the world over for the quality of its service. We are proud that, through our new affiliation, Asia GSA is able to bring the services of this much-lauded airline to Cambodian shippers.”

In the last week alone, Emirates SkyCargo took the top prize for Cargo Airline of the Year at the Air Cargo Week Awards in Shanghai; Best Cargo Airline to the Middle East at the Asian Freight & Supply Chain Awards, also in Shanghai; and Cargo Airline of the Year at the Supply Chain & Transport Awards in Dubai.

http://www.etravelblackboardasia.com...id=68867&nav=2

[Asian]

Past and present of the Cambodia national carriers. Which scheme is better looking?

From JetPhotos.net:

[Asian]

Phnom Penh International Airport is small, but nice and good enough for Phnom Penhonians, at least for now.

From JetPhotos.net:

[Asian]

Cambodia Airports

http://www.cambodia-airports.com/

[Asian]

Other Airlines in Cambodia (past and present)

Cambodia International Airlines (from JetPhotod.net)



Kampuchea Airlines (from JetPhotos.net)



First Cambodia Airlines (from JetPhotos.net)



Mekong Airlines (from Airliners.net)



President Airlines (from Airliners.net)



Royal Khmer Airlines (from Airliners.net)



Angkor Airways (from Airliners.net)



PMT Air (from Airliners.net)



Siem Reap Air (part of Bangkok Airways) (from Airliners.net)

[SeeMacau]

Only Cambodia Angkor Air still operates after this financial crisis

[KlaKhmer]

How many companies are there ?

[KlaKhmer]

I wonder why Cambodia don't have a just one plane with regurlar fly between PP and European countries ?
There are a lot of tourists from Europe.
So, if there are just one fly / week / country :
1rst day, Paris -> Berlin -> Phnom Penh
2nd day, Phnom Penh -> Berlin -> London
3nd days, London -> Roma -> Phnom Penh
4nd days and so one.

This could ensure the development and promotion of Cambodia tourism sector.
In particular, with the development of the coast line.

The plane should be new LOL.
For information, a380 cost $325 M for 500-800 passengers.