Cambodia and Vietnam Will Sign an Agreement for Joint Investment in the National Air Line on Sunday – Saturday, 25.7.2009

“Phnom Penh: A partnership agreement for joint investment in Cambodia Angkor Air will be signed on this Sunday [26 July 2009] by the Cambodian Government and Vietnam Airlines. What will be signed is an agreement on investment for the airline, which will fly between Cambodia and Vietnam, and it will be the birth of a national airline of Cambodia after the previous national airline Royal Air Cambodge went bankrupt eight years ago.


“The secretary of state of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, Mr. Mao Havannal, said on 23 July 2009 that the agreement will be signed officially on 26 July 2009. And flights will be launched on 27 July 2009, and, as planned, Samdech Akkak Moha Senapadei Dekchor Hun Sen will preside over this event.

“At the launching day on 27 July 2009, the company will begin when two delegations will be boarding, one will be led by Deputy Prime Minister Sok An flying to Siem Reap, and the other delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An will fly to Sihanoukville.

“He added that for the first step, the Cambodia Angkor Air will start its flights on three routes: Phnom-Siem Reap, Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville, and Phnom Penh-Ho Chi Minh City.

“Therefore, at the end of July, Cambodia will have its own national airline, after the former national airline had disappeared almost a decade ago in 2001.

“Mr. Mao Havannal said that the creation of a new national airline covers three important intentions: first, an sovereign state should have its own national airline, so that second, there is a balance in air traffic with Cambodia having its own flights, while foreign airlines can also fly to Cambodia, and third, to promote the growth of tourism in and to Cambodia.

“Royal Air Cambodge, the former Cambodian national airline, went bankrupt in 2001 due to management problems, wasting as much as US$30 million.

“Thus, it is crucial that a new national airline has a more efficient management, to ensure that money can be earned for the sate, and the honor of Cambodia can be maintained.”

Posted in: Khmer News