New airline to launch in Cambodia before end of year

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Cambodia Bayon Airlines will soon import two Modern Ark 60 aircrafts from the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), with plans to begin domestic flights before the end of the year, a company representative said yesterday.

Bayon will sign an agreement with AVIC on Thursday – the same day the company announces its official establishment in Cambodia, said Taing Chung Leang, vice president of parent company Bayon Holdings Limited.

“We will fly regularly from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap every 45 minutes,” he said, adding that flights from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville will be scheduled twice a day.

Chung Leang said the new aircrafts can carry up to 50 passengers and the company plans to expand its fleet to five planes by the end of 2015.

“We see a big potential in domestic flight market as the number of tourists in Cambodia increase annually.”

The firm is in the process of applying for an Air Operators Certificate from the Secretary of State Secretariat of Civil Aviation of Cambodia (SSCA).

Keo Sivorn, director general at the SSCA, told the Post that Bayon was on track to receive their licence by the end of the year.

“Their working process is modern and quicker compared to other companies that we are used to working with.”