Cambodia

AirAsia has reopened flights between Kuala Lumpur-Siem Reap with two flights per week. AirAsia Malaysia noted that Siem Reap was one of its popular destinations, and it carried almost 170,000 travellers on the route in 2019. It is also planning more flights and destinations in Cambodia, with flights to Sihanoukville from 2 Jun

Flight trials at the Dara Sakor International Airport are set to take place in Jul 2022

Dara Sakor International Airport launched test flights from 19-26 Apr, to check the safety of the runways. Its operation date is slated for mid-2022

Cambodia Angkor Air has launched a direct flight from Zhengzhou to Phnom Penh

The Siem Reap International Airport could be closed at the end of 2023 with the opening of the Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport

The Siem Reap Angkor International Airport will play an important role in boosting Cambodia’s economy and tourism once it opens in 2023

The State Secretariat of Civil Aviation reported that passenger movements at Cambodia’s 3 international airports grew 140% YoY to 110,753 passengers in Jan-Feb, dominated by international passengers. Aircraft traffic increased 54% YoY to 2,462

The State Secretariat of Civil Aviation reported that construction of the new Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport has only reached 22%, noting that there had been miscalculations from the developer, who said the project was 42% complete in May 2021

The government plans to upgrade the level of Battambang’s Veal Bek Chan Airport from 3C to 4C, to allow airlines to operate bigger aircrafts

Angkor Air has sold a 28% stake in the airline to China-owned Xing Gang Investment Group. The group noted that it was part of their plan to establish Henan as an international hub

Thai Vietjet has received an Air Operating Licence (AOC) from Cambodia, the first foreign airline to do so in 2 years. The State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) forecasts air travel in Cambodia to return to 35% of pre-pandemic levels

Bangkok Airways has noted that fuel costs are 10% of their operational costs, as demand has not yet recovered. Its highest cost is leasing, at 25%. It will not opt to hedge fuel right now, and has noted that Russian tourists account for only 1% of its passengers via codeshare agreements. In 2022, it is aiming for a revenue of 8.18 billion THB, with average load factor of 65% and 2.64 million pax, 30-40% of which are international tourists. In 2021, it earned 5.67 billion THB, -44.5% YoY, and carried 540,000 pax, -72% YoY with load factor of 58.6%. It plans to launch Samui-Hong Kong and Bangkok-Siem Reap routes in Q3, Bangkok-Danang, Luang Prabang, Yangon and the Maldives in Q4. It also called for Test & Go to be scrapped, to allow seamless travel within the country

Bangkok Airways revealed that its Bangkok-Phnom Penh contributed to 2% of total passenger revenue in 2021. 10 domestic and international airlines were operating in Cambodia’s 3 international airports by end-Jan. Pacific Asia Travel Association Cambodia Chapter Chairman said that the increase in international flights, albeit not at pre-pandemic levels yet, indicate increased confidence in tourists and investors to visit Cambodia

The PM regards the arrival of the first business jet in Sihanouk International Airport for the first time in months as an indication of the province’s tourism and economic recovery

Thai Vietjet to operate 3 flights per week on the Bangkok-Phnom Penh route starting from 16 Mar

THAI Smile will operate 2 flights per week between Bangkok-Siem Reap from 3 Mar

The number of direct flights between China and Cambodia is expected to increase from 1 to 2 per week. The Cambodian Tourism Association believes that more direct flights at a cheaper cost will encourage visitors to Cambodia

Cambodia Airports has said that they are “cautiously optimistic”, and that it will take time to rebuild air traffic. It anticipates a gradual process, which will accelerate in Q4 2022

Cambodia stands to gain more visitors if Vietnam relaxes its border policy, and removed its restrictions on international commercial flights

Cambodia Angkor Air have reopened their domestic flights between Phnom Penh-Siem Reap, with twice weekly flights

Thai Vietjet plan to increase flights to Cambodia. The State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) has reported that by end Jan, 10 domestic and international airlines were operating in Cambodia, with some frequencies at 3-4 times per week. However, international flights are still limited

AirAsia have restarted their Phnom Penh-Kuala Lumpur flights, with 2 return flights per week. Cambodia Airports sees new flight routes reopening as a positive move, but cautioned that for a reasonable load factor, Malaysia also needs to relax its quarantine measures

Vietnam Airlines has increased flights to Phnom Penh from 4 to 10 per week

Vietnam Airlines will fly 4 times per week to Cambodia

The number of flights between Thailand and Cambodia have decreased 20% after the suspension of new applications for the Thailand Pass

AirAsia has resumed its Bangkok Don Mueang-Phnom Penh flights from 22 Dec

Bangkok Airways has reported that its Bangkok-Phnom Penh route has seen a load factor of 50% in Dec so far

Siem Reap welcomed a Singapore Airlines flight on 17 Dec with 67 tourists on board. A Lanmei Airlines flights was due to arrive from Bangkok on 17 Dec

Singapore Airlines and Lanmei Airlines are scheduled to reopen flights to Siem Reap on 17 Dec

The new Phnom Penh International Airport has been renamed Techo Krong Takhmao International Airport

Philippine Airlines will add one more flight to Phnom Penh in Dec

Cambodia is prioritising launching air passenger flights with ASEAN countries. The State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) is also pushing for connections with Middle Eastern carriers, and Japanese ones. Its next priority will be reopening regular flights to China, once China relaxes its restrictions. From Dec 2021, 6 airlines have applied to resume flights, including Thai Smile, Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Philippine Airlines and Cathay Pacific. Singapore Airlines has also proposed increasing its flights from Singapore-Phnom Penh to 14 per week, and reopen Singapore-Siem Reap

Bangkok Airways will reopen its Bangkok-Phnom Penh flights from 1 Dec

The new Phnom Penh International Airport (NPPIA) is 26% complete. It is expected to start operations in 2023

Koh Kong’s Dara Sakor International Airport’s first trial flight is set for late Jan or early Feb 2022

Cambodia Airports have reported that pax traffic is “very low” without “any improvement” in Q3 2021. From Jan-Sep, the 3 international airports handled 181,644 pax, -91.2% YoY, and -97.9% vs 2019

The Dara Sakor International Airport is set to be finished in Nov, with a test later in 2021

A technical soft launch has been approved for the Dara Sakor International Airport in Koh Kong at the year-end. Industry experts believe that it could boost the daily flow of visitors there, as well as increase property prices

The new Phnom Penh airport is 25% complete, and construction should be completed by 2023

China has temporarily suspended a Cambodia Airways flight from Phnom Penh to Chengdu from 23 Aug, after 5 passengers tested positive on arrival on 4 Aug

Cathay Pacific will resume 3 flights to Phnom Penh from Hong Kong in Jul and Aug

Air pax traffic was -94% YoY from Jan-May 2021, with just 115,353 pax

Of 22 aircrafts leased by Cambodia-registered airlines, 13 are grounded. The State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) has said that airlines in the country need to rethink their business models and fleet, and that “there are too many aircrafts in the system relative to the realistic prospects for medium-term recovery. The new normal in many markets and the industry as a whole is going to be smaller”

Cambodia Airports has reported that the country is seriously looking at reopening by Q4, with a focus on setting up travel bubbles with traditional regional markets including China, Korea, Japan, Thailand and Singapore

Phnom Penh International Airport handled 38,346 pax from Jan-Apr, -94.3% YoY

The Dara Sakor International Airport in Koh Kong province is expected to be operational by the year-end

Cambodia Airports saw an increase in passenger air traffic in Apr, by 0.7%, But Jan-Apr traffic was down 94.9% YoY

Inbound domestic travellers to Sihanoukville airport from Phnom Penh and Siem Reap will need to undergo a 14-day quarantine

2,454 aviation workers have been vaccinated, according to the Secretariat of State of Civil Aviation

Flight operations at Dara Sakor International Airport in Koh Kong are due to start mid-2021. The airport is currently testing flights

Dara Sakor International Airport is forecast to be operational by mid-2021

Sihanouk International Airport is looking at welcoming new, direct long-haul flights from Europe and the Middle East

The construction of an international airport in Koh Kong province has been postponed until the COVID-19 situation eases

Passenger traffic at Cambodia’s 3 international airports dropped 81.3% YoY in 2020

Cambodia is planning a pilot training school to open in 2021 to remedy the acute shortage of pilots

Part of Cambodia’s new international airport in Phnom Penh will be built by a Chinese owned company, MCC, in a project worth $495 million USD

Cambodia’s international airports’ passenger traffic has dropped 70% from Jan-Oct. In Oct, there was just an average of 33 flights daily, with international flights originating from China, Seoul, Singapore and Taipei

Silkair is increasing flight frequency between Phnom Penh and Singapore to three times weekly

Dara Sakor International Airport in Koh Kong is now scheduled to be opened mid-2021, as most elements are nearing completion. The airport was built for tourists and charter flights who are for the majority flying to Dara Sakor Resort. Dara Sakor Resort is an area 360kmsq which has a port for cruise ships, golf courses, national park, casino and hotels

The runway expansion of Sihanoukville Airport has been completed, and is scheduled to be commissioned in Q4 2020

The aviation sector will continue to have its minimum tax exempted from Oct to Dec 2020 for airlines, and the payment of civil aviation fees will be delated for 2 more months until the end of Dec 2020

Cambodia Angkor Air will launch a new route from Phnom Penh to Zhengzhou to China. The flight frequency will be once per week. They are also seeking to open a new route from Phnom Penh to HCMC or Can Tho. Air traffic has dropped by 75% from Jan-Aug, Cambodia Airports have said

ANA have delayed reopening their flights from Cambodia to Japan to end Oct at least

5 aviation firms which operate flights from the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia to China will be allowed to transit in Cambodia for refuelling. Passengers will not be permitted to disembark

More airlines have restored flights to Cambodia, including SilkAir from Singapore to Phnom Penh, Cambodia Airways from Phnom Penh to Fuzhou and JC Airlines between Kunming and Phnom Penh

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has submitted plans for international flights to be reinstated to Cambodia. All pax would be quarantined on arrival (at their own cost). Transit passengers would not be allowed into the country. Pax would also need to provide a negative test prior to departure, and be tested on arrival

China will resume flights to Cambodia from 3 Sep, with travellers subject to a 14-day quarantine on arrival and 2 COVID-19 tests

Flights between Cambodia and Laos will resume in Sep for business travellers and long-stay residents

Cambodia has been approved for transit flights through Singapore when flying on Singapore Airlines Group’s 3 carriers. This would only allow for outbound travel from Cambodia, and pax are not allowed to transit Singapore for travel into Cambodia

More passengers will be allowed to transit at Changi Airport, including Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, on Singapore Airlines Group’s flights, in addition to last week’s approval for Cambodia and Vietnam. Routes include from Bangkok, Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya, Ipoh, Kuching, Kuala Lumpur and Penang

The first international aviation training centre has now opened in Cambodia, at the American University of Phnom Penh