Cambodia’s airspace getting crowded
Cambodia emerged into a new playground for private airlines with at least five new passenger airlines preparing to launch operations in the country next year, doubling the number of local carriers and raising competition on domestic and international routes.
The latest carrier to announce its launch was Lanmei Airlines (Cambodia), a Chinese-owned airline which said on October 9 will operate six-nation flights in the Greater Mekong Sub-region from next year onwards. The airline would operate flights from Cambodia to Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and China. Lanmei’s inaugural flight from Sihanoukville to Macao took already place on September 29.
Another carrier, Lithuanian charter airline Small Planet Airlines, has recently obtained a Cambodian air operator’s certificate and plans to offer flights from Europe into Cambodia and also open connections to and from India and Saudi Arabia. It further seeks to expand its regional presence to Hong Kong, South Korea and China and apply for licenses in Thailand, Japan and several Pacific islands.
In total, seven airlines are currently licensed for operations in Cambodia, apart from Lanmei Airlines and Small Planet Airlines also JC International Airlines, Air Siem Reap, KC International Airlines, Prince International Airlines and Cambodia Airways.
In the recent past, Cambodia has developed a reputation for being one of the easiest markets for startup airlines to obtain a license and has been particularly attractive to operators targeting the high-growth Chinese market. Existing carriers comprise of Cambodia Angkor Air, Sky Angkor Airlines, Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Bassaka Air.
However, the country has proven to be a challenging market, with a list of over 30 now-defunct airlines, with the latest atrocities having been Apsara International Air, Wat Phnom Air, PP Air, Skywings Asia Airlines and Tonle Sap Airlines.
Cambodia emerged into a new playground for private airlines with at least five new passenger airlines preparing to launch operations in the country next year, doubling the number of local carriers and raising competition on domestic and international routes. The latest carrier to announce its launch was Lanmei Airlines (Cambodia), a Chinese-owned airline which said on October 9 will operate six-nation flights in the Greater Mekong Sub-region from next year onwards. The airline would operate flights from Cambodia to Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and China. Lanmei’s inaugural flight from Sihanoukville to Macao took already place on September 29. Another carrier,...
Cambodia emerged into a new playground for private airlines with at least five new passenger airlines preparing to launch operations in the country next year, doubling the number of local carriers and raising competition on domestic and international routes.
The latest carrier to announce its launch was Lanmei Airlines (Cambodia), a Chinese-owned airline which said on October 9 will operate six-nation flights in the Greater Mekong Sub-region from next year onwards. The airline would operate flights from Cambodia to Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and China. Lanmei’s inaugural flight from Sihanoukville to Macao took already place on September 29.
Another carrier, Lithuanian charter airline Small Planet Airlines, has recently obtained a Cambodian air operator’s certificate and plans to offer flights from Europe into Cambodia and also open connections to and from India and Saudi Arabia. It further seeks to expand its regional presence to Hong Kong, South Korea and China and apply for licenses in Thailand, Japan and several Pacific islands.
In total, seven airlines are currently licensed for operations in Cambodia, apart from Lanmei Airlines and Small Planet Airlines also JC International Airlines, Air Siem Reap, KC International Airlines, Prince International Airlines and Cambodia Airways.
In the recent past, Cambodia has developed a reputation for being one of the easiest markets for startup airlines to obtain a license and has been particularly attractive to operators targeting the high-growth Chinese market. Existing carriers comprise of Cambodia Angkor Air, Sky Angkor Airlines, Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Bassaka Air.
However, the country has proven to be a challenging market, with a list of over 30 now-defunct airlines, with the latest atrocities having been Apsara International Air, Wat Phnom Air, PP Air, Skywings Asia Airlines and Tonle Sap Airlines.
