Bamboo Airways makes Cambodia debut with Hanoi-Siem Reap flight

Signalling the revival of tourism prospects, Vietnamese leisure airline Bamboo Airways started its flight from Hanoi to Siem Reap on Sunday. The maiden flight from the Vietnamese capital landed at the Siem Reap International Airport on Saturday 7:20 pm, boosting the travel options for tourists from both countries. Bamboo Airways officials said it operates the modern Embraer-190 aircraft, providing “utmost convenience and flight experience” for passengers. The airline is looking to expand its international flight services, Thach Pierre Hoang, Deputy CCO of Bamboo Airways, said in a statement. “This first nonstop Hanoi-Siem Reap flight is Bamboo Airways’ next effort in our journey of expanding international presence. We are more than delighted to offer five-star oriented services at Siem Reap International Airport and look forward to leveraging this valuable partnership with many more upcoming routes in the future,” Hoang said. He expressed hope that the new flight would help boost the cooperation of both countries. “We expect our new Vietnam-Cambodia route will fulfill its crucial role as aviation bridge and make a substantial contribution to the development of both countries in all aspects such as tourism, economy, culture,” he said. Stephen King, Chief Commercial Officer at Cambodia Airports, said the company, which operates the Kingdom’s three international airports, was happy to welcome Bamboo Airways to the country. “In this challenging time, it is a breakthrough to welcome a new carrier. We are delighted to welcome Bamboo Airways today. We know passengers will appreciate the extra choice offered by the airline’s new service linking Vietnam’s vibrant capital Hanoi and the wonderful city of Siem Reap,” King said in a statement. He said the new development would help boost the tourism prospects. International tourists depend on the Siem Reap airport to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Angkor Archeological Complex. “This is a further sign of the rebuilding of tourism after the successful vaccination campaign led by Cambodian authorities and subsequent reopening of the Kingdom’s borders. We look forward to welcoming new routes between our two countries partnering with Bamboo Airways in the coming months,” he added. Siem Reap International Airport, which restarted operations in December 2021 after the Covid-19 pandemic, currently has flights from/to Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hanoi, and two domestic liaisons. “The new service connecting Hanoi and Siem Reap will be conducive to restoring point-to-point travels between two of Asia’s most appealing cities known for their rich heritage and ‘douceur de vivre’, according to a Cambodia Airports’ press release. “It will also strengthen travel options for passengers and boost tourism growth by taking advantage of two international airport hubs,” the company pointed out. Last week, Bangkok Airways also announced the resumption of its direct daily flights to Siem Reap. The Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi Airport)-Siem Reap route will be operated by an ATR72-600 aircraft, according to reports. Bamboo Airways, established in 2017, targets to become the first five-star airline in Vietnam and operates a wide domestic network across Vietnam. This article was first published in Khmer Times. All contents and images are copyright to their respective owners and sources. Khmer Daily