Cambodia Aviation News and Discussion

[Angkorian123]

Originally Posted by mrfusion

Until Cambodia can look after itself, you can't say that.
When we are heavily rely on foriegn support, and that could be airline, road, power, etc, we are not really in position to tell these people to mind their own business. This is still their business.



I haven't been to any Vietnam beaches, is it really true that Cambodia beaches are better, in what sense is it better?



We are probably also need foreign support to boost our tourism industry.

The quality of the sand! Maldive water, etc! You wanna see!

7 miles of pure powder sand on one ISLAND! There 28 beaches in this Island all together! That's just one of the many islands!

[stevedarke]

Does anyone have contacts in the Cambodian Department of Aviation? I'm looking for help in a historical research project relating to aviation in Cambodia.

Steve Darke
www.thai-aviation.net

[AsianDragons]

CAA is likely to break Bangkok Airways monopoly in Siem Reap




Cambodia Angkor Air: all smiles before fighting Siem Reap-Bangkok air monopoly /Photo by L. Citrinot

By Luc Citrinot, eTN | Jan 26, 2011



PHNOM PENH (eTN) - It was a funny coincidence. During the last ATF in Phnom Penh, official lunches hosted for buyers' media were offered by two regional carriers: Cambodia Angkor Air (CAA), Cambodia’s newly-established national carrier, and Bangkok Airways, a pioneer of air transport in the kingdom. Thailand's regional private carrier was the first to launch flights in the early nineties from Bangkok to Phnom Penh and then Siem Reap/Angkor.

Similar presentations, similar entertainment programs were on the menu of both carriers. A way maybe to seduce travel professionals as both carriers are soon to compete on one of Asia’s most desirable routes: Bangkok-Siem Reap. In 1997, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen declared that traffic rights on this route were only given to a Cambodian carrier and Bangkok Airways. Since then, Cambodia Civil Aviation systematically rejected demands from other Thai air carriers such as Thai Airways or Thai AirAsia to compete on this route. With such a decision, it was all smiles for years at Bangkok Airways while individual travelers and tourism trade winced at the high level of charged fares - in vain.

Looking at airline websites gives a better idea of the fare situation. By booking a return flight today (January 26) on Bangkok-Siem Reap (travel dates 4/02 to 6/02), Bangkok Airways’ cheapest fare comes at US$361 (THB 10,850), including taxes. This fare level can be compared to some of the prices on offer by low-cost players out of Bangkok. For a similar – or even cheaper - fare, passengers can go today to Bali or to Macau. And what about Vietnam Airlines’ policy? For a booking on January 26 for the same travel dates, Vietnam’s national carrier – which also enjoys a monopoly on routes to Vietnam - proposes its Siem Reap-Ho Chi Minh City at US$298, including taxes and fees. And it is even cheaper if the flight is done in conjunction with a long-haul connection.

Bangkok Airways’ juicy monopoly might soon be in tatters as competition is due to come. During an exclusive talk to eTurboNews, CAA Vice-CEO Kao Lim confirmed that it seriously looks at opening flights between Siem Reap and Bangkok. “We are now waiting the delivery of two Airbus A321 to expand our international operations. We have plans to start new flights possibly to Japan, Korea, Guangzhou, Singapore, and Thailand. Bangkok-Siem Reap is definitely an option, despite the fact that the route has not been doing that well over the last years,” he explained. New aircraft are due for delivery from April. “We are looking to have a total fleet of five aircraft for the time being,” added Mr. Lim.

For years, Siem Reap-Bangkok stood as Siem Reap’s busiest route. But annual passengers traffic has remained stagnant for almost a decade, hanging approximately around 285,000. During the same time, Siem Reap-Ho Chi Minh City became the airport’s busiest route, now representing over 310,000 passengers a year. CAA management estimates that the combined effects of Thailand’s political crisis and high fares have depressed the air market. And Mr. Lim is already promising that he will seriously look at the price issue when launching its Bangkok-Siem Reap route.

http://khmerization.blogspot.com/201...k-airways.html

[AsianDragons]

Flights to Angkor set to rise
Sunday, 30 January 2011 19:14 Soeun Say and Jeremy Mullins .Cambodia Angkor Air is set to schedule flights from Siem Reap to Bangkok this year, bringing competition to a route presently flown by only one carrier – Bangkok Airways.
After acquiring two new Airbus aircraft, which are set to arrive in the middle of this year, Cambodia Angkor Air will use the planes to service the Thai capital along with two other destinations, according to Say Sokhan, State Secretariat of Civil Aviation adviser to the Council of Ministers.

“According to the plan we will fly three new routes this year – Siem Reap to Bangkok, Siem Reap to Seoul and Siem Reap to Singapore,” he said.

Prices for the new routes have not yet been set, according to Say Sokhan, but CAA will compete directly with Bangkok Airways on its Thai route.

CAA is said to be 51 percent government owned, with 49 percent held by Vietnam Airlines.

“This is the free market,” said Say Sokhan. “Competition must have reasonable prices and service quality. So if someone does it better, they will choose [that airline].”

Ang Kim Eang, president of the Cambodian Association of Travel Agents, said he welcomed the new flights, adding that competition would likely lower fares on the Siem Reap to Bangkok route.

Through the private sector working groups “we have been asking [Bangkok Airways] to consider the airfare between Siem Reap and Bangkok, but have not been so successful”, he said. “Competition will be better than negotiations.”

Although Bangkok Airways officials did not return request for comment last week, fares posted on its website for Siem Reap to Bangkok are often higher than its Phnom Penh to Bangkok flights.

Today, a one-way direct flight with the airline from Siem Reap to Bangkok was advertised on its website at US$160 for February 9, compared with $114 for a similar ticket from Phnom Penh to Bangkok – a route which several airlines, including AirAsia and Thai Airways, fly.

Bangkok Airways is the only airline flying regularly scheduled passenger flights between Siem Reap and Bangkok, according to the Cambodia International Airports website.

The latest direct flights join an increasing number of regional links.

Cambodia and Myanmar officials have signed a deal to begin direct flights between the two nations in February.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.p...t-to-rise.html

[AsianDragons]

Adding Airlines: Thai carriers aim to land in Siem Reap
Friday, 11 February 2011 15:00 SIEAM BUNTHY .
TWO Thai airlines have requested permission to begin flights to Siem Reap, according to Soy Sokhan, undersecretary of state at the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation.

The Council of Ministers will make the final decision after the airlines’ submission are examined by experts, he said yesterday.

“The government will be pleased to give them licences if their documents follow the labour laws and the companies have clear policy,” he said.

Of the two airlines aiming to fly from Thailand to Siem Reap, Phuket Airlines is primarily a short-term leasing and charter service, according to its website, while Sunny Air is a start-up airline, according to travel magazine TR Weekly.

President of the Cambodian Association of Travel Agents Ho Vandy said the government’s open skies policy provide an opportunity to attract more international airlines to compete.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.p...siem-reap.html

[AsianDragons]

European flights: Paris-PP bookings available
Thursday, 10 February 2011 15:01 Ellie Dyer .
AIR France’s first flight on its Phnom Penh-Paris service will take off at the end of next month, with online bookings now available on its website. The carrier intends to run three planes per week between the two capitals, with a short stop in Bangkok.

The route will be operated from Phnom Penh at 8.05 pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

From March 28, a 275-seater Airbus A340 will operate the route, before switching to a larger 309-seat Boeing 777 in May.

Air France’s Cambodia country manager Emmanuel Guillaume stated in a press release that the company was committed to providing “competitive, seamless and secured” access to its services, with a “little bit of French touch”. Prices started at US$700 return excluding taxes, he said.

Yesterday, the Air France website quoted a Paris-Phnom Penh return in late April for $885 excluding tax, increasing to $1,277 including tax.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.p...available.html

[AsianDragons]

the government has also given out licenses to two more airlines, Tonle Sap Airlines from Taiwan and Skywings Asia Airlines from Greece.

http://spkfoods.com/read_local-news_42_.html

looks dodgy can anyone confirm???

[mrfusion]

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.p...takes-off.html

Apprently, Tonle Sap airlines has start operation, not sure what is the point to start a new airline company just to flight between 2 places. Couldn't China Airline services Siem Reap.

http://www.tonlesapairlines.com/

[AsianDragons]

Air fares to include departure charge
Wednesday, 02 March 2011 15:01 Ellie Dyer .
The charge levied on air passengers leaving Cambodia will be incorporated into ticket prices for those flying on or after April 1.

Norinda Khek, communications and marketing manager of airport management company Société Concessionnaire des Aéroports, said yesterday that the move was being made to “ease and speed-up processes at our airports”.

The passenger service charge is set at US$25 for adult foreigners and $13 for foreign children aged between two and 12. Cambodians are charged $18 and $10 respectively.

The charge included with tickets will be at foreigner rates, with Cambodians entitled to a refund of the difference at airports.

Passengers who booked flights on or after January 21 with the intention of flying in April or beyond have already had the fee included in their fares. It is also included in all domestic fares and Jetstar flights to Singapore.

All passengers flying before April 1 and those have not paid as part of their tickets must settle the fee at airports' counters.

A traveller who has been charged at booking but has changed plans to fly before April 1 is entitled to a refund to avoid being charged twice. The levy is a source of revenue for SCA and includes a security charge and value added tax .

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.p...re-charge.html

[AsianDragons]

http://www.cambodia-airports.com/ind...en#flight_info

Myanmar airways international can now be found in the airport website

[mrfusion]

Originally Posted by AsianDragons

Air fares to include departure charge
Wednesday, 02 March 2011 15:01 Ellie Dyer .
The charge levied on air passengers leaving Cambodia will be incorporated into ticket prices for those flying on or after April 1.

This should have happen long long ago, it is always a hassle to queue up again to pay for airport departure tax. They should just nominate a rate for both Cambodian and Foriegner so it do not need a refund department.

[AsianDragons]

Landings loom: Taiwanese carrier aims to Siem Reap .
Tuesday, 19 April 2011 15:00TOM BRENNAN.. Sharevote
nowBuzz up!
A ONCE-TROUBLED Taiwanese airline hopes to resume flights to Siem Reap as its “priority destination”, according to the Taiwan state news agency.

Far Eastern Air Transport, which in 2008 was forced to suspend service due to financial problems, restarted domestic flights in Taiwan yesterday, Central News Agency reported.

“The carrier has also filed an application with [Taiwan’s] Ministry of Transportation and Communications to resume international flights, with Siem Reap, Cambodia as its priority destination,” CNA said yesterday.

The company’s first flights to Siem Reap began in 2004, CNA said, and it hopes to resume service on the route in May.

A total of 18,160 Taiwanese came to the Kingdom in the first two months of 2011, according to Ministry of Tourism figures, ranking it 10th among home countries of visitors to Cambodia during the period. Far Eastern Air Transport is among a number of airlines instituting, or reinstituting, flights to Cambodia. Air France last month relaunched service after 37 years, while Germany’s Air Berlin and Russia’s Aeroflot could begin flying to the Kingdom in 2011.

State Secretariat of Civil Aviation and Far Eastern officials could not be reached for comment yesterday.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.p...siem-reap.html

[FrankieVN]

Found on Utube

[thaivna]

Congrats! After AirFrance, hopefully there will be more Big Carriers start their flight to Cambodia!

[mrfusion]

^ Yes, like Qantas.

[Asian]

This is a new private airlines in Cambodia - TonlaSap Airlines http://tonlesapairlines.com/Aircraft.html

Here are more pictures from http://pic.feeyo.com/posts/527/5277542.html

[mrfusion]

yes, a taiwansese airline that doesn't even operate in PP.

[AsianDragons]

Cambodia’s airports see growth in 2011 .

Thursday, 21 July 2011 15:01 Soeun Say

VISITORS to the Kingdom’s two international airports have increased 13 percent in the first six months compared year on year, according to Cambodia Airport statistics obtained yesterday.

Key growth came from countries including Vietnam, South Korea, China, the USA, and Japan, officials said.

Ministry of Tourism Director of Statistics and Tourism Information Department Kong Sophearak said yesterday he welcomed the rising numbers, crediting government attempts to attract visitors as causing the increase.

“Cambodia has an open sky policy where we welcome visitors from every country,” he said.

The statistics show Phnom Penh International Airports received 445,225 arrivals from January to June this year, a 9.9 percent increase on the same period in 2010.

Siem Reap International Airport recorded a 15.6 percent increase in the period to 444,602 visitors during the six-month period, the statistics show.

Some 30,726 and 36,987 people arrived on domestic flights in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh respectively in the first half of 2011, with the rest international arrivals.

The Tourism Ministry has previously forecasted 2.73 million visitors for 2011, and expects revenue from the sector to total $1.91 billion.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.p...h-in-2011.html

[AsianDragons]

Myanmar airline to stretch wing to Cambodia
Source: xinhuanet.com - Published on: Saturday, September 10, 2011 - View: 192



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YANGON, Sept. (Xinhua) -- The Myanmar Airways International ( MAI) will extend its flight services to Cambodia next month as part of its plan to stretch wing to more international destinations, a local report said Wednesday without specifying the date.



A newly-bought A-321 aircraft of MAI, expected to arrive in October this year, will be used to fly the routes of Yangon-Siem Reap-Phnom Penh, the Weekly Eleven said, adding that MAI has also planned to expand its other flight services.



The direct air link between Myanmar and Cambodia is prompted by the 4th Ayeyawady Chaophraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) summit and 5th CLMV Summit in November last year which was aimed at developing tourism industry in the subregion.



Since 2007, Cambodia and Myanmar have been working in collaboration for realization of direct air link and visa exemption, aiming to promote tourism industry between the two countries.

At present, MAI operates international flights with four Airbus A-320 between Yangon and Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok, Guangzhou, Gaya, Siem Reap and Yangon-Bangkok-Singapore.

http://www.cambodia-tourism.org/news...KsCUuY.twitter

[SilverSiR]

Does anyone which if any international flights are staffed with Khmer speaking flight attendants? I'm specifically looking at the AF CDG-PNH or Asiana's ICN-PNH.