AIR France’s first flight on its Phnom Penh-Paris service will take off at the end of next month, with online bookings now available on its website.  The carrier intends to run three planes per week between the two capitals, with a short stop in Bangkok.

The route will be operated from Phnom Penh at 8.05 pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

From March 28, a 275-seater Airbus A340 will operate the route, before switching to a larger 309-seat Boeing 777 in May.

Air France’s Cambodia country manager Emmanuel Guillaume stated in a press release that the company was committed to providing “competitive, seamless and secured” access to its services, with a “little bit of French touch”. Prices started at US$700 return excluding taxes, he said.

Yesterday, the Air France website quoted a Paris-Phnom Penh return in late April for $885 excluding tax, increasing to $1,277 including tax.