Local and foreign carriers are moving to resume flights out of Cambodia, as the country works to overcome the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Carriers such as Cambodia Angkor Air, China Airlines and EVA Air have resumed flights to and from the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, while major operators such as Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Thai Airways International and Qatar Airways plan to resume flights to Cambodia in June and July, a 5 May report from Phnom Penh-based English language newspaper Khmer Times says.
Earlier this week on 4 May, the Khmer Times reported that based on data provided by Cambodia’s State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA), the number of passengers flying to the country had dropped “more than 90% as of April this year”, although the report did not specify a figure.
SSCA was also quoted in the 4 May report as saying that “there are almost no flights in Cambodia”, and that “China allows only one flight per week for one airline from Cambodia”.
Meanwhile, a search on Phnom Penh airport’s website indicates that there are five flights scheduled to operate on 6 May. Three of these are bound for China, while the remaining two are to South Korea and the domestic destination of Sihanoukville.
Separately, Cambodia has also extended a support programme for its civil aviation sector.
The Agence Kampuchea Presse national news agency reported on 31 March that Cambodia has agreed to exempt local airlines from paying a “minimum tax” between March and May, and that airlines can delay debt repayments relating to civil aviation fees for up six months.
Cirium data show that Cambodia has six local airlines: Bassaka Air, Cambodia Airways, Cambodia Angkor Air, JC International Airlines, Lanmei Airlines, and Sky Angkor Airlines.
