Cambodia Angkor Air, the national flag carrier, launched its first direct flight between Phnom Penh and New Delhi yesterday, enhancing connectivity and air transport between the two nations.
An event was held on June 16 at the VIP Terminal of Phnom Penh International Airport, under the presidency of Neth Savoeun, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Committee of the Civil Aviation Security, Mao Havannall, Minister in Charge of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, Sok Soken, Minister of Tourism, Devyani Khobragade, Indian Ambassador to Cambodia and relevant stakeholders in the aviation and tourism sectors.
The flight took off from Phnom Penh International Airport on Sunday afternoon with four-and-a-half hours to reach the destination.
Using Airbus A320, the airline offers four weekly flights on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
The new flight route is poised for success due to the shared religious heritage, healthcare needs and historical ties between Cambodia and India, the airline said, citing that this connection will not only boost tourism but also foster deeper cultural and economic relations.
The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted that launching the direct flight would contribute to enhancing trade activities and air transportation between the two countries.
“This inaugural direct flight will significantly enhance the social, cultural, and economic ties, particularly tourism sector between Cambodia and India,” Savoeun said.
Mao Havannall viewed the launching of direct flight as the progress of Cambodia’s aviation sector under the government’s open sky policy.
“This new route between Cambodia and India reflects the progress of Cambodia’s aviation sector,” he said.
Coinciding with the Cambodia-India Tourism Year 2024, this new route is expected to significantly boost tourist arrivals in both countries.
According to Havannall, the Cambodia Angkor Air plans to increase flights to every day by October this year if the market demand is high.
