Cambodia Bayon Airlines goes international

file photo.

PHNOM PENH:-- Cambodia Bayon Airlines commenced its first international service on 1 July, with the introduction of daily flights on the 212-kilometre sector between Phnom Penh (PNH) and Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) in Vietnam.

The airline, which began domestic operations last December, will operate the service using Chinese-built MA-60 turboprop aircraft.

Competition on the route is provided by Cambodia Angkor Air (with 20 weekly flights) and Vietnam Airlines (with daily flights). Incidentally, the airline’s IATA code is BD, which used to belong to British Midland International in the UK.

source: http://www.anna.aero/2015/07/03/cambodia-bayon-airlines-goes-international/

Anybody who worries about the safety of Thai carriers (most of which are OK) should steer a wide berth around Bayon. They're a wholly owned subsidiary of Joy Air out of China, whose record speaks for itself, and they fly the notorious MA60. Safer than taking a Cambodian bus but probably not by a whole lot.

To be fair when you review the accidents, every single one seems to be due to human error.