Aspara Air waits for wings

Cambodia’s newest airline venture, Apsara International Air, says it has postponed the launch of scheduled charter services between Phnom Penh and points in China until 2014.
It was supposed to start services this month, but failed to gain an operating certificate and traffic rights for the inaugural service.
Apsara International Air, co-owned by Chinese and Cambodian investors, will have to wait for approval from the Secretariat of State for Civil Aviation to start operations and that could delay the launch to the first quarter of 2014.
SSCA operations director, Keo Sivorn, was quoted by local media as saying Apsara had gained “in principle approval” from the government and is now waiting Air Operating Certificate (AOC) documents to be completed.
“We met with them recently when they received in principle approval, but it does not mean they have an AOC”
Further meetings this month have been organised to prepare documents, which comply with international standards, he added.
“It could take more than 120 days for an AOC to be issued to the new airline.”
According to ch-aviation, an online information service for the airline industry, Apsara International Air official, Sor Kundaroth, said the airline will offer charter flights between Phnom Penh and 15 different destinations in China.

Sourced: ttrweekly