Air France becomes first European airline to offer flights to Cambodia

2011-03-31 20:26:28 GMT+7 (ICT)

PARIS (BNO NEWS) -- After a 37 years absence, Air France is once again offering scheduled flights between Paris and Cambodia. It makes Air France the only European airline to operate flights directly to Cambodia.

The inaugural flight, flight 274, landed in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh on Thursday. "We are proud to be the first European airline to once again operate scheduled services between Europe and Cambodia, as part of our growth strategy on routes to Asia where we are increasing capacity," said Pierre-Henri Gourgeon, CEO of Air France KLM.

Gourgeon said the airline will operate three weekly return flights between Paris and Cambodia, promoting economic and cultural ties with the region.

The flights are being operated by Airbus A340-300 aircraft until May 9, after which a Boeing 777-200 aircraft will take over. The route is also expected to help boost the opportunities for transporting goods such as fresh produce and textiles between France and Cambodia. Air France will offer hold space with a weekly cargo capacity of up to 40 tonnes.

The launch of the Paris - Phnom Penh route is part of the Air France KLM group's growth strategy with a 5.7 percent increase in capacity, with the launch of 11 new destinations in 2011 to Phnom Penh, Bata, Billund, Freetown, Lima, Monrovia, Orlando and Cancun for Air France, and Xiamen, Miami and Aalborg for KLM.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-03-31

Air France returns to Cambodia after 37 years

PHNOM PENH, March 31, 2011 (AFP) - An inaugural Air France flight landed in Cambodia on Thursday, marking the reopening of a route closed 37 years ago as bombs pounded the capital and the Khmer Rouge prepared to seize power.

The airline, which first started flying to Phnom Penh in 1947 when Cambodia was still a French colony, is the first European carrier to fly to a country that last year welcomed over two million tourists.

The last Air France flight left Phnom Penh in June 1974, just months before the Khmer Rouge closed the borders and launched a radical revolution that plunged the country into one of the worst horrors of the 20th century.

Attending the official ceremony is a royal former Cambodian Air France flight attendant, who worked on one of the last flights to Paris.

Princess Sylvia Sisowath, a cousin of former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk, said she remembers rushing to get passengers onto the plane as bombs were raining down nearby on Khmer Rouge fighters.

"We had to embark quickly because there was shelling around the city, but not on the airport," she told AFP, adding that she was "very happy" to see the airline return to her country.

The Khmer Rouge emptied the cities and abolished money and schools in a bid to create an agrarian utopia.

Up to two million people died from overwork, starvation or execution under the 1975-1979 regime.

Air France CEO Pierre-Henri Gourgeon said the resumption of flights from Paris to the southeast Asian country was part of the airline's growth strategy, but it was also significant from a historical perspective.

"It is really emotional," Gourgeon told reporters at Phnom Penh International Airport where Air France Flight 274 from Paris was given a red carpet welcome.

As the Airbus A340, which carried some 275 passengers including French Transport Minister Thierry Mariani, taxied on the tarmac on Thursday, it passed under an arch of water created by two fire engines, a traditional welcome for a maiden voyage.

The airline will operate three services a week between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Phnom Penh, with a brief stopover in Bangkok

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-03-31

Seems appropriate, after all Cambodia was a French colony but all they left was people who knew how to make great bread and food and a few crumbling colonial buildings. I wish the Cambodians good luck and hope they get lots of tourists.

Pity to see that crappy Air France is going to operate this route.

Pity to see that crappy Air France is going to operate this route.

nobody ask you to use air france lol

Oops here goes the Thailand airtravel asia HUB

Air France got the same deal a few years ago also with Vietnam .

I think its a great idea. Well done Air France, hope it has a good take up.

it's nothing to do with LOS... but since commuting from Cambodia to Thailand is as easy as goin' up north to

Chiangmai or Chiangrai....though............

Acceptable..... to be in this section.....

One trollish post deleted.

It states it has a brief stop in Bangkok do you think I guy could get a return ticket on it from Bangkok to Cambodia

The French airlines gets it right, many Khmer settlers could make it easier coming home directly. Somes might want to stay for good. Time to visit its old colony.

Another step in the right direction for Cambodian tourism. No doubt other airlines will be watching?

jb1

Maybe they are hoping to cash in on the hordes of 49 year olds who will be flocking to Cambodia to get wed before they get past their sell by date.

Another step in the right direction for Cambodian tourism. No doubt other airlines will be watching?

jb1

A giant step into expanding the beast that is tourism can only be a destructive force for Cambodia.