Cambodia eyeing increased flights

Cambodia eyeing increased flights

Cambodia is focusing on flights within Asean countries as it opens for fully vaccinated tourists who are now entitled to quarantine free entry if conditions are fulfilled.

The remarks were made by Mao Havannal, Minister in charge of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation in a meeting between the government-private sector on promoting tourism during and post Covid-19, held yesterday.

SSCA said that prioritising the launch of air passenger flights with ASEAN countries is the first on the list in accordance with the principle of easing transit.

‘SSCA will continue to push for and discuss with airlines from Middle Eastern countries such as Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways to consider resuming flights, including All Nippon Airways from Tokyo, Japan,” he said.

The next priority for SSCA is the resumption of regular flights between Cambodia and China, whenever the Chinese government relaxes its anti-Covid-19 measures.

“Under the current scenario, the growth of air passengers and flights will not be attractive to the aviation and tourism markets if air transport between the two countries remains limited,” he said.

After the Royal Government of Cambodia waived quarantine for Cambodian tourists who have been fully vaccinated, the country has seen a gradual increase in the number of tourists entering Cambodia, said Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism in the meeting.

For scheduled flights from December 2021, six airlines have applied to resume flights, including Thai Smile Airways from Bangkok (4 flights / week), Bangkok Airways (7 flights / week), Thai Air Asia(3 flights / week), Philippines Airlines (1 flight / week), Cathay Pacific Airways(1 flight / week).

Additionally, Singapore Airlines also proposed to increase the number of flights to 14 flights / week on the Singapore-Phnom Penh-Singapore route and also requested to re-run the Singapore-Siem Reap-Singapore route 7 times / week, he said, adding that local airlines-Lanmei Airlines-will fly on the Phnom Penh-Siem Reap-Bangkok route 2 times / week.

“The number of flights may vary depending on the evolution of the actual situation of control of the Covid-19 pandemic,” Khon said.