By John Maloy and Van Roeun
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
PMT Air resumed flights from Phnom Penh to Ratanakkiri province Wednesday after months of charter-only service, but the company will be charging non-Cambodian passengers significantly more than locals.
Sar Sareth, director of PMT Air, said that prices for foreigners— which he said he couldn’t remember—had to be raised if the company hoped to break even.
A PMT official said on condition of anonymity that Cambodian passengers would continue to pay $70 for one way fights to Banlung and $140 for roundtrip tickets.
The price for foreigners, however, has been hiked to $100 one way and $180 roundtrip, the official said.
PMT didn't want to increase prices for Cambodians but felt that foreigners could afford to pay more, he added.
Sar Sareth said that the ticket price for the twice-weekly flights would be lowered if the number of passengers increased, but for now the company—which is the only carrier that flies to Ratanakkiri— was providing a valuable service.
"The road is bumpy and takes a long time," he said. "Time is quite important for travelers."
Ho Vandy, president of the Cambodian Association of Travel Agents, said he was concerned that the price would discourage visitors.
"I hope that as tourism increases another carrier will begin flying [to Ratanakkiri] and will bring the price down to a normal level," he said.
Though it may be the only airline flying to Banlung, PMT does not have monopoly rights to the route, said Keo Sivorn, director of flight operations and air safety at the State Secretariat for Civil Aviation.
Chenda Clais, manager and owner of the Terres Rouges Lodge in Banlung town, said the short fight from Phnom Penh was now more expensive than flying to Bangkok.
"We are worried about the price" of airfare, she said. "It is more expensive than going to Bangkok."
Tranuth Sean, director of the Ratanakkiri Tourism Department, said that even if the price hike does discourage foreigners from flying, it would have little impact on tourism in general.
"I think only business people want to take flights to Ratanakkiri," he said. "Eco-tourists travel by road," he maintained.
Sar Sareth, director of PMT Air, said that prices for foreigners— which he said he couldn’t remember—had to be raised if the company hoped to break even.
A PMT official said on condition of anonymity that Cambodian passengers would continue to pay $70 for one way fights to Banlung and $140 for roundtrip tickets.
The price for foreigners, however, has been hiked to $100 one way and $180 roundtrip, the official said.
PMT didn't want to increase prices for Cambodians but felt that foreigners could afford to pay more, he added.
Sar Sareth said that the ticket price for the twice-weekly flights would be lowered if the number of passengers increased, but for now the company—which is the only carrier that flies to Ratanakkiri— was providing a valuable service.
"The road is bumpy and takes a long time," he said. "Time is quite important for travelers."
Ho Vandy, president of the Cambodian Association of Travel Agents, said he was concerned that the price would discourage visitors.
"I hope that as tourism increases another carrier will begin flying [to Ratanakkiri] and will bring the price down to a normal level," he said.
Though it may be the only airline flying to Banlung, PMT does not have monopoly rights to the route, said Keo Sivorn, director of flight operations and air safety at the State Secretariat for Civil Aviation.
Chenda Clais, manager and owner of the Terres Rouges Lodge in Banlung town, said the short fight from Phnom Penh was now more expensive than flying to Bangkok.
"We are worried about the price" of airfare, she said. "It is more expensive than going to Bangkok."
Tranuth Sean, director of the Ratanakkiri Tourism Department, said that even if the price hike does discourage foreigners from flying, it would have little impact on tourism in general.
"I think only business people want to take flights to Ratanakkiri," he said. "Eco-tourists travel by road," he maintained.
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