Cambodia’s flourishing airline sector is expected to witness further growth this year as two new companies begin operating international flights, according to a report released Friday by the Australia-based Center for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA).
Bassaka Air and Cambodia Bayon Airlines both began operating last year, bringing the total number of Cambodian carriers to four, but they currently only offer domestic flights.
The report says the two airlines are planning to offer flights to China in 2015, which could continue to spur growth in Cambodia’s passenger numbers. But it cautioned that the country’s aviation market may not be able to support four local carriers.
“A third start-up has already suspended operations and other potential start-ups seem to be reassessing their plans,” it says.
The report is the second half of a two-part report released this week by CAPA that examines Cambodia’s aviation market.
The first section of the report says Cambodia’s passenger growth expanded by 13 percent in 2014, mostly fueled by visitors from China, making Cambodia the fastest-growing aviation sector in Southeast Asia.
