Air Cambodia
Cambodia’s national flag carrier, formerly Cambodia Angkor Air, operating full-service domestic and international passenger flights from Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Air Cambodia is the national flag carrier of Cambodia and a full-service airline headquartered in Phnom Penh, where it also maintains its principal hub. The carrier operated for many years under the name Cambodia Angkor Air before adopting the Air Cambodia name on 1 January 2025. Its business is centered on scheduled passenger transportation within Cambodia and across Asia, with a particular emphasis on tourism-related traffic serving destinations such as Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor Wat. The airline was established in July 2009 by the Cambodian government and Vietnam Airlines, with reported initial capital of US$100 million. The Cambodian government initially held 51% and Vietnam Airlines 49%. Air Cambodia began commercial operations on 28 July 2009, succeeding Royal Air Cambodge, which had ceased operations in 2001. Its first services connected Phnom Penh and Siem Reap within Cambodia with Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. The early operating model relied substantially on aircraft and personnel leased from Vietnam Airlines, and the two carriers developed codeshare cooperation, including the use of Vietnam Airlines flight numbers on certain services. Air Cambodia expanded gradually from its initial domestic and Vietnam network. It added Siem Reap–Sihanoukville service in 2011, then entered Thailand with flights from Siem Reap to Bangkok in 2012. During 2013, the carrier added or announced services to Hanoi, expanded Bangkok flying, introduced additional Chinese destinations and operated charter services to several Chinese cities. Later expansion included links involving Shanghai, Beijing, Singapore, Seoul and the wider Indochina region. The airline’s network has changed over time in response to tourism demand, competition and wider market conditions, so individual routes and frequencies should be treated as time-specific rather than permanent features of the brand. The carrier offers a full-service product with Business and Economy cabins on Airbus aircraft. ATR 72 operations have historically been configured with Economy only. Passenger services have included onboard meals on many flights, advance meal ordering, the ANGKOR inflight magazine and ancillary options such as preferred seats, additional baggage, lounge access and adjacent empty-seat purchases. Through a partnership with Optiontown, the airline has also offered a prepaid Flight Pass concept and paid cabin-upgrade options. Air Cambodia’s brand identity draws on Cambodian cultural and national imagery. Its logo is inspired by the giant ibis, known in Khmer as Tror Yorng, which is associated in the supplied reference material with protection, strength and good fortune. The airline’s post-2025 identity presents the bird motif in a form intended to suggest aircraft-engine fan blades and upward movement. A new logo and aircraft livery were unveiled at a ceremony on 15 January 2026, according to the cited reference material. Ownership has evolved since the original government–Vietnam Airlines joint venture. Vietnam Airlines announced in April 2020 that it had sold its 49% interest to an undisclosed buyer. A 2022 report cited claims that Xing Gang Investment Group had acquired a 28% stake, while the supplied reference material also states that Vietnam Airlines retained a 14% interest at the end of 2024. Because the available reports do not establish a fully consistent current capitalization table, the present ownership structure is recorded cautiously. Air Cambodia remains an active Cambodian aviation brand and an important vehicle for national connectivity, inbound tourism and regional air links.
History
Air Cambodia was founded in July 2009 as a joint venture between the Government of Cambodia and Vietnam Airlines. The Cambodian government held 51% at formation and Vietnam Airlines held 49%, with reported initial capital of US$100 million. The new carrier was intended to restore a national flag-carrier function after Royal Air Cambodge stopped operating in 2001. It began commercial service on 28 July 2009 under the name Cambodia Angkor Air. The first routes connected Phnom Penh and Siem Reap with Ho Chi Minh City. Siem Reap was strategically important because of its role as the principal air gateway for visitors to Angkor Wat. Early operations used ATR 72 turboprops and Airbus aircraft, and the carrier relied substantially on aircraft and personnel leased from Vietnam Airlines. Codeshare arrangements allowed Vietnam Airlines and the Cambodian carrier to market selected services using their respective flight codes. Expansion during the 2010s added domestic and regional links. A Siem Reap–Sihanoukville route began in December 2011. In November 2012, the airline entered the Bangkok market from Siem Reap, challenging an established route monopoly. During 2013 it added Hanoi services from Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, introduced a Phnom Penh–Bangkok service and expanded its Chinese presence through scheduled and charter operations. Destinations and charter activity mentioned in the historical record included Guangzhou, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Wenzhou, Zhengzhou and Fuzhou. The airline also operated or announced services involving Beijing, Singapore, Seoul and an Indochina routing connecting Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Rapid expansion increased the carrier’s exposure to competition. In March 2013, the airline forecast a loss for the first time, attributing the result to expansion and competitive pressure. Individual services were subsequently adjusted, rerouted, resumed or operated seasonally as market conditions changed. The historical record therefore describes a changing network rather than a fixed route portfolio. The ownership structure changed during the COVID-19 period. On 16 April 2020, Vietnam Airlines announced the sale of its 49% stake to an undisclosed buyer. In 2022, reports cited claims that Xing Gang Investment Group acquired a 28% stake. The supplied reference material additionally states that Vietnam Airlines still held 14% at the end of 2024, although the relationship between the reported transactions and the final shareholding is not fully documented in the available sources. On 1 January 2025, Cambodia Angkor Air formally adopted the Air Cambodia name. The rebrand reinforced its national-carrier identity. The reference material says that a new logo and aircraft livery were unveiled on 15 January 2026. The identity uses the giant ibis as a central symbol and combines the bird motif with visual cues associated with aircraft-engine fan blades. The airline has also been associated with proposed fleet expansion, including discussions concerning Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft and a memorandum of understanding for COMAC C909 aircraft, but delivery schedules and final orders should not be treated as confirmed operating facts without further documentation. Air Cambodia’s continuing business includes domestic and international passenger transportation, full-service cabin offerings on Airbus aircraft, regional tourism connectivity and selected charter operations. Its historical service platform has included onboard catering, the ANGKOR magazine and ancillary products such as Flight Pass, paid upgrades, seat selection, extra baggage and lounge access.
- 2026
New identity unveiled
[1]A new logo and aircraft livery were presented at an official ceremony.
- 2025
Cambodia Angkor Air became Air Cambodia
[1]The airline completed its formal name change and rebranding on 1 January.
- 2020
Vietnam Airlines announced stake sale
[1]Vietnam Airlines announced the sale of its 49% interest to an undisclosed buyer.
- 2013
Expanded Vietnam, Thailand and China network
[1]New Hanoi and Bangkok services were introduced, followed by scheduled and charter operations to Chinese destinations.
- 2012
Entered Thailand market
[1]The airline launched daily Siem Reap–Bangkok service.
- 2011
Sihanoukville route added
[1]A three-times-weekly Siem Reap–Sihanoukville domestic service began.
- 2009
Airline established
[1]The Cambodian government and Vietnam Airlines formed the airline as a national flag-carrier joint venture.
- 2009
Commercial operations began
[1]The carrier began flying on 28 July with routes linking Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City.
Products and positioning
Cambodia’s national flag carrier and a full-service regional airline focused on domestic connectivity, inbound tourism and Asian passenger routes.
Passenger air transport · 2009
Domestic passenger flights
Scheduled domestic services connecting Cambodian cities and tourism gateways. The historically documented network included Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, although individual routes and frequencies have changed over time.
Passenger air transport · 2009
International passenger flights
Full-service international flights connecting Cambodia with regional destinations. Historical markets have included Vietnam, Thailand, China, Laos, Singapore and South Korea, with scheduled, seasonal and charter operations appearing at different times.
Airline cabin product · 2009
Business and Economy cabin service
Airbus services have offered Business and Economy cabins, while ATR 72 operations have historically provided Economy Class only. Catering and other onboard services vary by route and aircraft.
Ancillary airline service
Flight Pass
A prepaid flight-subscription concept developed with Optiontown that allowed customers to purchase travel access in advance and select travel dates later, subject to the program’s conditions.
Marketing campaigns
- 2026New logo and aircraft livery
Cambodia · International markets
Air Cambodia introduced a visual identity based on the giant ibis, incorporating imagery intended to convey protection, strength, good fortune and upward flight.
Outcome. The revised logo and livery were unveiled at an official ceremony.
- 2025Air Cambodia rebranding
Cambodia · International markets
The carrier replaced the Cambodia Angkor Air name with Air Cambodia, emphasizing its national identity and continuity as Cambodia’s flag carrier.
Outcome. The new name became the airline’s official public brand from 1 January 2025.
Brand decisions
2025
Adopted the Air Cambodia nameOtherBackground
The long-running Cambodia Angkor Air identity was replaced as part of a national-brand repositioning.
Action taken
The airline officially changed its name to Air Cambodia on 1 January 2025.
Aftermath
The carrier continued operating as Cambodia’s national flag airline under the new brand.
2025
Planned fleet expansion discussionsProduct launchBackground
The airline indicated ambitions to expand and modernize its fleet.
Action taken
Reported plans included negotiations for Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft and a memorandum of understanding for COMAC C909 aircraft, with additional options discussed.
Aftermath
The supplied material does not establish completed deliveries or the final status of these proposed acquisitions.
2020
Vietnam Airlines stake saleM&ABackground
The global COVID-19 crisis placed severe pressure on airline ownership and liquidity.
Action taken
Vietnam Airlines announced that it had sold its 49% interest to an undisclosed buyer.
Aftermath
The transaction changed the ownership structure, although the complete post-sale capitalization is not established by the supplied material.
2013
Rapid regional expansionStrategyBackground
The airline sought to broaden its tourism and regional network across Vietnam, Thailand, China and the wider Indochina region.
Action taken
It added routes, increased frequencies and introduced scheduled and charter services to multiple Asian destinations.
Aftermath
The carrier forecast its first loss, citing expansion costs and stronger competitive exposure.
2009
Created a government–airline joint ventureStrategyBackground
Cambodia required a national flag-carrier structure after Royal Air Cambodge ceased operations.
Action taken
The Cambodian government and Vietnam Airlines established a new airline with a 51%–49% ownership split.
Aftermath
The carrier began operations under the Cambodia Angkor Air name and developed codeshare and leasing links with Vietnam Airlines.
Initial capital. US$100 million (At establishment in 2009)
Sources1 sources
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