New carrier's KL flight a sign of strong ties<\/p>\n
PHNOM PENH (AFP): The inaugural flight of Cambodia's national
\ncarrier, Royal Air Cambodge (RAC), left yesterday for Kuala
\nLumpur, a sign of the country's strong ties with Malaysia, said
\nCambodian co-premier Prince Norodom Ranariddh.<\/p>\n
\"This inaugural flight symbolizes the business partnership
\nbetween Royal Air Cambodge and Malaysia Helicopter Services (MHS)
\nand also the strong bilateral friendship between Cambodia and
\nMalaysia,\" Prince Ranariddh said.<\/p>\n
\"Today you are witnessing the rebirth of the world's newest
\ninternational airline,\" he told dignitaries before boarding the
\nflight with second Prime Minister Hun Sen and other officials for
\na one-day visit to Kuala Lumpur.<\/p>\n
RAC is a joint venture between the government and MHS, the
\nmajor shareholder of Malaysian Airways. MHS will hold 40 percent
\nof venture.<\/p>\n
Officials put the cost of setting up Cambodia's sole national
\ncarrier at US$10 million.<\/p>\n
It will initially fly to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore before
\nexpanding operations to other destinations, officials said.<\/p>\n
RAC was the national carrier until 1970 when former ruler,
\nthen prince but now king Norodom Sihanouk was overthrown in a
\ncoup d'etat, after which it became Cambodia Airlines until 1975
\nwhen the isolationist Khmer Rouge did away with the country's
\nairline business.<\/p>\n
The agreement to set up RAC was signed last Wednesday amid
\nofficial optimism the new carrier would help bring tourism and
\nbusiness to Cambodia but controversy still surrounds the closure
\nof two Thai-owned airlines to make way for RAC.<\/p>\n
Cambodia International Airlines (CIA) staff and officials
\ncomplain they were only given two days notice to close on Dec.
\n24. Government officials vigorously deny the charge.<\/p>\n
Another Thai-owned airline, Siam Kampuchea (SK Air), was
\nordered to close at the same time but the government recently
\nsaid it could continue to Jan. 31.<\/p>\n
Many passengers bought tickets on both airlines and neither
\nthe government nor the airline companies are willing to accept
\nany liability for loss.<\/p>\n
But while these two Thai-owned businesses in Cambodia have
\nlost out, officials say Malaysia is the biggest investor in the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
Some $180 million worth of projects are already operating in
\nCambodia and between $350 million to $380 million worth of
\ninvestment has been approved, officials said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-carriers-kl-flight-a-sign-of-strong-ties-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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