Local Airline to fly Taipei-Siem Reap route

Taiwan's TransAsia Airways is slated to launch its first direct charter flight Friday between Taipei and the Cambodian city of Siem Reap, the gateway to the world renowned temple complex of Angkor Wat.

Joe Chu, the airline's sales manager, said that the new service will fill a gap in market demand left by the previous airline that flew the route. It will also save travel time to the famous Cambodian tourist attraction, which is listed as a world heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Far Eastern Air Transport, which in cooperation with the Cambodia-based Angkor Airways used to provide regularly scheduled flights on the route, canceled the service in May due to financial difficulties.

Chu said that TransAsia Airways, which will be the only airline serving the route, will fly 15 charters a month, serving only tour groups and travelers that join foreign independent travel (FTI) packages offered by the travel agencies.

The initial response to the charter scheme, which will continue for at least for one year, has been good, with the first two scheduled charters already fully booked, he added.