Cambodia Angkor Air ready to take-off

Cambodia Angkor Air says its business operations are optimistic and well prepared in terms of strengthening domestic flights and expanding international flights. KT/Sok Chan

Cambodia Angkor Air, the national flag carrier, says its business operations are optimistic and well prepared in terms of strengthening domestic flights and expanding international flights, according to its chairman.

Tekreth Samrach said this month the company is observing a remarkable achievement as Cambodia Angkor Air celebrates its 11th anniversary on July 27.

He said that in 2009, Cambodia Angkor Air was the only airline in Cambodia that served both national and international customers. Throughout the years, it has transformed the aviation industry in the Kingdom for the years to come.

“We are optimistic and well prepared in terms of strengthening our domestic flights and expanding our international flights, especially to Southeast Asia destinations in alignment with our strategic plan after this global pandemic has been contained,” said Samrach.

“We have taken in a generation of youths and trained them into competent pilots and industry professionals, thus laying the foundation for talents within our nation,” he said.

Until the end of 2019, Cambodia Angkor Air expanded its flight routes domestically and internationally to the Republic of China (Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Haikou), Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City) and recently connected with an additional flight between Phnom Penh and Danang (Vietnam).

“Entering 2020, air transport experienced a drastic fall because of the global health pandemic, COVID-19. Our national flag carrier also suffered from this crisis, which required us to reduce and cancel a large number of our flights,” Samrach said.

However, he added that Cambodia Angkor Air still operates with pride by strictly adhering to international standards, including instructions from the World Health Organization and guidelines of national and international aviation authorities, especially instructions from the Ministry of Health and the Government.

“Amid this difficult time, Cambodia Angkor Air is devoted to repatriating the Cambodian people to their homeland from New Delhi, India. Moreover, we have also carried Filipinos from Phnom Penh to Manila, comfortably and safely. It is vital to note that our airline has taken all necessary preventive measures and, so far, none of our employees has been infected by COVID-19,” Samrach pointed out.

Norinda Khek, communication and public relations director of Cambodia Airports, told Khmer Times that for the first three weeks of July, Cambodia’s three airports handled 410 inbound and outbound flights and nearly 85 percent of them operated from/to Phnom Penh International Airport. Compared with the same period in 2019, that’s a 95 percent decrease, he added.

“For scheduled international flights, the liaisons are from/to some Chinese cities, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei City and Seoul. We also have some charter flights from/to Jakarta, Macau and Manila. All of them have been operating, but on reduced frequencies,” he said.

Norinda added at present only five local airlines are operating their routes. They are Cambodia Angkor Air, Lanmei Airlines, JC Airlines, Cambodia Airways and Sky Angkor Airlines.

Starting from Aug 1, Cambodia will be temporarily suspending flights from Malaysia and Indonesia after observing the high virus transmission rates from passengers travelling from both countries, the Ministry of Health statement said late last weekend. Khmer Times