Cambodia Bayon Airlines signs new investor
27-Aug-2014 China aviation corporation the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) which has a stake in Xi'an-based airline Joy Air has invested in a new Cambodian airline, Cambodia Bayon Airlines, through its Cambodian parent company Bayon Holdings Limited.
Named after the famous Bayon Temple of Angkor Wat complex, Cambodia Bayon Airlines is registered as a Cambodian civil aviation company with the Ministry of Commerce of Cambodia in April 2014 and formed in June 2014. An official ceremony was held in Phnom Penh by Taing Chung Leang, vice president of parent company Bayon Holdings Limited, on 21 August 2014 to announce the marketing and operational plans of the airline.
According to Taing, Cambodia Bayon Airlines has applied for an Air Operator Certificate from the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation of Cambodia (SSCA) and it hopes to begin domestic flights as early as December 2014, latest by January 2015. Its initial route Phnom Penh-Siem Reap will be operated every 45 minutes while there will be twice-daily flights on its second route Phnom Penh-Silhanouville.
Domestic flights of Cambodia Bayon Airlines will be served by two Chinese MA-60 turboprop aircraft which the new carrier has ordered from AVIC. Technical support will be provided by AVIC while crew training and marketing will be supported by Joy Air and Bayon Holdings Limited.
Cambodia Bayon Airlines has firm orders for 2 MA-60 aircraft with options to order another 18 MA-60 turboprops and 10 Airbuses A320. The aircraft fleet will operate a network of ASEAN, Chinese, Korean and Japanese routes from Phnom Penh and Siem Reap within five years.
Cambodia Bayon Airlines aims to be the largest airline of Cambodia and will compete with state-owned airline Cambodia Angkor Air and Siem Reap-based Korean-owned Skywings Asia Airlines.