China's Guangxi Beibu Gulf Airlines adds Siem Reap flight route

APD NEWS

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By APD writer Kin Ratha

**Phnom Penh, April 20 (APD) - **Guangxi Beibu Gulf Airlines, a Chinese carrier based in Nanning Airport, Guangxi province, southern of China, plans to add international flight from Nanning city to Siem Reap province, to compete in the country’s aviation market.

The carrier is planning to launch its first international service –Nananing-Siem Reap from May 29, 2018, according to Center for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA).

The carrier will make more though in aviation market in Cambodia; while other new carriers have also applied for approval from the government to operate, said Sin Chanserey Vutha, spokesman at Cambodia’s aviation body.

Mr Chanserey Vutha was out of knowledge over the Guangxi Beibu Gulf Airlines’ flight schedule, but said the new carrier is among dozens of carriers invested by Chinese and local investors that make options in destinations, competition flight fares, and even the sector saturated in some time.

“We have 7 to 8 airlines have applied for approval to operate flight service in Cambodia. Most of the carriers are invested by investors from Chinese and some partner with local investors,” Mr Chanserey Vutha said. “Most of the carriers are invested by Chinese and some partner with Cambodian investors due to the One Belt One Road Initiative because Chinese government has encouraged Chinese investors to invest in Cambodia.”

As of 2017, Chinese passengers represented about 25 percent of total passengers, a 60 percent increase compared with 2016.

By last year, eleven cities in China are connected to Phnom Penh through daily or weekly flights, while the many other Chinese destinations are available from Siem Reap International Airport and Sihanoukville International Airport via direct flight.

In 2017, all three airports accommodated 8.8 million passengers, 25 percent increase on 2016, according to Mr Delobel.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)