Cambodia's Secretariat of State Civil Aviation (SSCA) has confirmed four more start-up carriers are vying for Air Operator's Certificates (AOC) ahead of a proposed launch in 2018.
SSCA spokesman Sinn Chanserey Vutha told The Phnom Penh Post last week that the prospective carriers include Cambodia Airways (KR, Phnom Penh), Air Siem Reap (Siem Reap), Prince International Airlines (Phnom Penh), and Cambodia Airways (KR, Phnom Penh).
“We will complete the AOC for KC International Airlines early next year, then continue to issue the rest over the course of the year,” he said.
Of the four, three are Cambodian/Chinese joint-ventures namely KC International Airlines, Prince International Airlines (PIA), and Cambodia Airways.
The latter two start-ups are backed by the Chinese investors behind Prince Real Estate, and are headed by a former executive of Cambodia Bayon Airlines (Phnom Penh). PIA aims to launch with three A320s to serve the leisure charter market and two Gulfstream Aerospace jets for local business clients. For its part, Cambodia Airways aims to operate ten A320s and two A330s within the next five years. Aside from scheduled flights to Japan, South Korea and ASEAN countries, it is also looking to offer international routes to Europe and Asia.
Lastly, Air Siem Reap is a joint venture between Thai carrier Bangkok Airways (PG, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi) and Cambodian tycoon and ruling party senator Ly Yong Phat. Though details on the project are currently scant, it has applied to operate flights out of Siem Reap International Airport.
According to the ch-aviation airline directory, Cambodia's operational landscape currently consists of: Bassaka Air, Cambodia Angkor Air, Cambodia Bayon Airlines, JC International Airlines, Lanmei Airlines, Sky Angkor Airlines, Aero Cambodia, and Small Planet Airlines Cambodia. Other start-ups include Phnom Penh Air Cargo.
