Cambodia Angkor takes off today

Cambodia’s new national airline, Cambodia Angkor Air, code name K6, officially commences services today.

Initially, the carrier will concentrate on domestic flights between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh as well as regional services between Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

Until 31 August, Cambodia Angkor Air will operate 32 flights, a week, using ATR72s.

It also operates a daily flight on the Phnom Penh- Ho Chi Minh City route and another daily flight from Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City, both using ATR72s. There are plans to fly to Sihanoukville. Well down line, there is also a plan to fly to both Singapore and Bangkok, once it acquires a suitable jet aircraft.

On the Phnom Penh-Siem Reap route, it will compete head-on with Bangkok Airways, which offers four daily flights operated on behalf of suspended daughter airline, Siem Reap Airways.

Cambodia Angkor Air is the second attempt by the Cambodian government to establish a national carrier, after Royal Air Cambodge folded in October 2001. It ran up losses of US$30 million and was forced into receivership.

Siem Reap Airways, a subsidiary of Bangkok Airways, started in November 2000, with government blessing and has served Cambodia as its single carrier, domestically and regionally ever since.

However, it also ran into trouble, late last year, when the EU banned it from serving European cities. It was interpreted as a political move probably designed to embarrass the airline, while clearing the way for a competitor to be established. The EU officials at the time denied there was any interference in the decision to add Siem Reap Airways to its blacklist.

Critics pointed out that the airline used aircraft and technical services supplied by Bangkok Airways, which flies European-built aircraft and operates an internationally certified maintenance centre at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok.

Cambodia Angkor Air is a joint venture between the Cambodian government (51% share) and Vietnam Airlines (49% share) having a capitalisation of US$100 million.

Its CEO is Vietnam Airlines’ former spokesperson, Trinh Ngoc Thanh, while the rest of its top executives are also Vietnamese.

According its website, Cambodia Angkor Air and Vietnam Airlines have a code share agreement on all flights operated by K6.

All flights are displayed under the code of its marketing partner VN and are available in the Abacus and Galileo systems. K6 flights will not display in either system for the present. In Europe, fares are distributed through Amadeus.

All tickets will be under the code 738 of Vietnam Airlines until K6 complete their own CRS system and approval.

In Cambodia, travel agencies, that are BSP members, can issue ticket on K6 operated flights or VN partner flights. In other countries, travel agencies that can issue ticket of Vietnam Airlines will be able to book K6 flights, too.

Besides travel agents, passengers can also purchase tickets online at Vietnam Airlines’ website, www.Vietnamairlines.com

According to Phnom Penh Post, over the past 15 years, a number of airlines have failed financially in Cambodia. They include: Royal Phnom Penh Airways; Kampuchea Airlines; Angkor Airways Corporation; First Cambodia Airlines; Royal Air Cambodge and Air Dream. Another airline, PMT crashed its sole aircraft at Sihanoukville airport in June 2007 and has since been grounded.

For more information, visit www.cambodiaangkorair.com or www.k6-air.com or call +855 23 66 66 786-9