A Change of Guard

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Saturday 12 November 2011

Australian airline will launch direct flights to Kingdom [of Cambodia]

QANTAS, the Australian national airlines, flying over the two Australian best-known landmarks, The Sydney Opera House and The Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Friday, 11 November 2011
May Kunmakara
Phnom Penh Post

An Australian national airline would launch daily direct flights between Cambodia and Australia early next year, the Secretariat of State of Civil Aviation said yesterday.

The airline had conducted a feasibility study and a market survey in co-operation with a Cambodian technical team, Long Chheng, deputy cabinet chief of the SSCA, said, although he declined to name the company concerned.

The airline recently submitted a licence application after determining that the venture would be profitable, Long Chheng said.

“They see the market demand between the two countries. That’s why they made decision to start direct flights on daily basis,” he said.

The SSCA would offer the airline a licence in the hope of increasing Australian tourist visits, as well as economic growth, Long Chheng said.

The proposal also demonstrates the close relationship between the two countries, he said, adding that approval should come next week.

No information on which Australian cities the airline would service was available.

The Kingdom had opened many new direct flights this year, bringing the total number of airlines to 23, Ho Vandy, co-chair of Cambodia’s private tourism working group, said. The increases reflect what he called the country’s “open-sky policy”.

“With that policy, we’ve noticed that the number of tourists is increasing year on year. Even when [travel] in neighbouring countries is increasing slowly, we still continue to do better than them,” Ho Vandy said.

“This is because we have political stability . . . tourist safety and better service at an affordable price.”

Myanmar Airways International recently opened flights between Phnom Penh and Myanmar’s capital, Yangon. Several Korean carriers would also increase flights during the winter season, the Post reported last month.

The number of foreign tourist arrivals rose about 15 per cent year-on-year during the first nine months of the year, hitting to 2,084,789 visitors, according to the Ministry of Tourism. Australian tourist numbers climbed nearly eight per cent to 73,385 between January and September, compared with 68,170 during the same period in 2010.

Long Chheng said the airline would probably operate Boeing 747s or Airbus A330s, making for quicker trips to the southern continent.

“It will reduce time and expense for passengers, whereas transfers would normally take time before reaching the country,” he said.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

More money for crooked officials...at Pochintong airport...$20 for lunch and coffee??

Anonymous said...

This is good news for Australian tourists who wanted to visit Cambodia. This would mean faster travel and cheaper too.

Anonymous said...

Khmer oversea who live in Australia and France are now breathing a sigh of relief when visiting Cambodia. Now Air France and Qantas will have direct flight to and from Cambodia. Assuming no more layover. For oversea Khmer who live in America whether in the east coast or west coast, will still have to make a few stops over at certain location before arriving in Cambodia.

Anonymous said...

The official who checking my passport...kept asking me for $10 dollars, I didn't say nothing and he kept playing...with my passport?

Anonymous said...

The so-called passport officers only pick on Khmer overseas. You're a walking dollars to them. They know who you are, so they expect you to tip them when getting your visa stamp. It's a very discriminating process but it's almost like we have no choice, either you give these crooks $5, $10,or $20, or they might just ignore your passport and keep you waiting, worst yet, lose your passport. You could make complaint about this corrupt practices at the embassy of U.S, France, Australia ,etc.