Kingdom, Nepal sign for 14 weekly flights between them

Cambodia and Nepal last week signed their first air service agreement (ASA), which allows 14 weekly flights between both countries, according to Cambodia’s State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA).

The agreement was made during Prime Minister Hun Sen’s official three-day visit to Kathmandu, Nepal last week, during which he also attended the Asia-Pacific Summit.

Forty-fifth country

SSCA spokesman Sinn Chanserey Vutha said Nepal has become the 45th country to have an ASA with Cambodia. Passengers en route to Nepal currently need to make a connecting flight to Thailand, Malaysia or Singapore.

Vutha said the deal is an opening air service for airlines from both countries to conduct market research before allowing direct flights.

“A direct flight between Cambodia and Nepal depends on the market. If there is a large market and passenger numbers are good, they can fly directly between the two countries,” he said.

He said in his experience, any flight could be launched three months from the deal. However, it depends on practical work, especially on marketing issues.

Nepal, a South Asian country bordering two major countries – China and India, has a population of nearly 30 million.

Economic and tourism relations between the two countries are currently very limited. Cambodians travel to Nepal mostly for religious purposes, while Nepalese visit Cambodia mostly for tourism.

Investments

Cambodia Association of Travel Agents president Chhay Sivlin welcomed the deal as it would help boost the tourism sector.

“If a direct flight is launched, [nationals from] both countries will invest in [each other’s country], especially in the tourism sector,” she said.

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