THREE budget airlines are considering Cambodia for their newest
destination.
Tiger Airways, Asia Air and ValuAir have all approached the
Phnom Penh International Airport about the business potential of new flights,
said Anvanith Gui, manager of communications at the airport, on May
12.
No deals have been signed but Gui said there is great potential for a
low-cost carrier in the Cambodian market, provided it comes from a large
transport hub.
Industry newcomers ValuAir and Tiger Airways are
Singapore-based, while Air Asia has its head office in Kuala Lumpur.
"I
think the first one in will take a large share [of business], as they all come
from the same region," said Gui. "I think it will be a good development for
Cambodian tourism."
No estimates of fares were available, but regular
Bangkok-Singapore tickets from no-frills airlines sell for well under $100 and
special deals around the region go for as little as $9.
Gui said though
low-cost airlines were welcome, the airport's priority was to develop routes to
other cities and increase access to Cambodia.
Malaysia Airlines has just
announced three additional flights between Kuala Lumpur and Siem Reap, starting
June 3, and area manager Manaf Harun said there was concern about increased
competition, "especially for markets such as this where the price is the
predominant factor in choosing an airline".
Harun said Malaysia Airlines
would await the arrival of the new carriers before considering dropping prices.
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