Cambodia-India Direct Air Route Opens

KHMER TIMES
CHEA VANNAK

Air India could soon be flying direct to Cambodia. Reuters

The Cambodia-India direct air route is now open for business and airline companies have been invited to file their applications to operate flights between the two countries, according to an official from Cambodia’s State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA).

“A meeting was held recently in New Delhi between SSCA and Indian aviation officials with both sides agreeing that airline companies in Cambodia and India could now file applications to run flights from Phnom Penh and Siem Reap to New Delhi and other Indian cities,” said SSCA spokesman Sin Chansereyvutha.

Mr. Chansereyvuth revealed that there has been a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Cambodia and India for the direct flight route since 2002.

“With the MoU already in existence, it is easy for both Cambodia- and India-based airline companies to negotiate and file their applications to the relevant aviation authorities,” he said.

Ties between Cambodia and India go back to the first century AD when Hindu and Buddhist religious and cultural influences emanated out of India to various parts of Southeast Asia.

The pervading influence of Hinduism, Buddhism and Indian architecture are borne out by the magnificent structures at Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon, Ta Phrom and other religious and historical sites in Cambodia.

“Cambodia’s temples really attract Indian people, particularly the Hindu relics in Angkor Wat,” said Mr. Chansereyvutha. He also said the Indians were also interested in honeymoon tourism for newly married couples.

Indian Ambassador to Cambodia Naveen Srivastrava said recently at the India Tourism Road Show in Phnom Penh that he hoped direct flights between Cambodia and India would begin next year.

“This would boost tourism and trade between the countries,” he said, adding that Siem Reap could be the first destination for airlines flying direct from India.

In the first seven months of the year, 24,329 Indian tourists visited Cambodia ‒ representing a 30 percent increase compared to the same period last year.