Thai AirAsia on Siem Reap price war

Thai AirAsia (TAA) is breaking into the Bangkok-Siem Reap segment long dominated by Bangkok Airways in a move reflecting Cambodia’s new directive to open up its top destination for mass tourism. … TAA secured permission from Cambodian authorities to launch a daily service starting on Oct 1 as Phnom Penh ended Bangkok Airways’ monopoly of over 16 years. TAA chief executive Tassapon Bijleveld on Monday said it took the airline five years to obtain permission as Cambodia realised that more flights would help its drive to raise foreign visitors to the 12th-century. Siem Reap last year attracted 1.5 million foreign visitors, while Cambodia as a whole was visited by 3.5 million foreigners who contributed more than US$2 billion to its economy. … Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a Bangkok Airways insider said the airline is not overly concerned about TAA entering the Siem Reap sector, saying it caters to international passengers fed by code-share…

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/aviation/360031/taa-ready-for-price-war-on-new-siem-reap-route