Cambodia Angkor Air’s Plan in 2023 and Post-Covid-19 Strategy

Cambodia Angkor Air is the only National Flag Carrier of the Kingdom of Cambodia, which was established as a joint venture between the government and private sectors. In more than 10 years of its operations, Cambodia Angkor Air has played an important role in promoting national tourism, air transportation, and developing the economy of Cambodia. Cambodia Angkor Air has expanded its route network to link important capitals and cities, the most famous tourist destinations, which include 14 destinations such as Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh, Danang, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Haikou, Nanning, Zhengzhou, Hangzhou, and Macao. 

Cambodia Angkor Air has determined its vision as the leading airline in Cambodia and has become the first airline in Cambodia that receive a safety certificate from the International Air Transport Association's Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) and has been an official member of IATA since 2017, and with this status Cambodia Angkor Air has been recognized of having international safety and been trusted by passengers and partners both local and international. 

The spread of Covid-19 has caused severe impacts on the national economy and airline industry, causing all airlines to face the most difficult period for their operations and some airlines went bankruptcy. With the support of the Royal Government of Cambodia, Cambodia Angkor Air can maintain its service operations and increase flight frequencies, especially flight services between Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh city of Vietnam, between Phnom Penh and Guangzhou of China. Moreover, Cambodia Angkor Air has also increased the service of cargo transportation, including medical tool kits and medical supplies. 

Since the beginning of 2022, the number of international tourist visiting Cambodia has been increased remarkably. According to data of the Ministry of Tourism, 1.57 million came to visit Cambodia, increasing ten times compared to 2021, especially Siem Reap province received a total of 1.8 million both local and international visitors, which increased eight times compared to the same period of last year. In response to this development, Cambodia Angkor Air rapidly increase its flight operations to Siem Reap and Sihanoukville for Domestic route; Ho Chi Minh, Danang and Ha Noi for Vietnam route, and Zhengzhou and Nanning for China route. In 2022, Cambodia Angkor Air expects to carry 214,000 passengers. With the support of all Shareholders, Cambodia Angkor Air has the goals to develop its route network to cover the potential destinations in Southeast Asia, East Asia, and especially China market with the development project of “Henan-Cambodia-ASEAN-Air Silk Road Strategic Cooperation Agreement”; and Cambodia Angkor Air also has plan to establish a second headquarter in China. 

For the upcoming year 2023, Cambodia Angkor Air will expand both fleet and route network with the coming of 1 new ATR72 and 1 new Airbus A320, and opening new routes to Haikou, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing of China and Singapore, which would increase the carrying passengers up to 650,000 with nearly 10,000 flights. 

H.E. Tekreth Samrach, the Chairman of Board of Directors of Cambodia Angkor Air said: “The most difficult period for our airline is over; we are looking toward the brilliant future where Cambodia Angkor Air shall grow faster and fly further, bringing Cambodian culture and images to the world”.