The under-construction site Techo International Airport in Kandal province, which is expected to officially open in July. Yousos Apdoulrashim
Cambodia’s civil aviation sector is working hard to learn how it can best participate as a member of the Cape Town Convention (CTC), which will bring numerous economic benefits to the Kingdom’s aviation industry.
On March 24, the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA), in collaboration with Boeing, organized a workshop on the Cape Town Convention and Protocols.
The CTC is an international treaty which standardises transactions on movable assets, like lease agreements or the sale of commercial aircraft.
The event saw the participation of Mao Havannall, Minister of the SSCA, and Bridgette Walker, US ambassador to Cambodia, representing Boeing, along with senior officials from the SSCA and representatives from relevant ministries and airlines.
Sinn Chanserey Vutha, SSCA spokesperson, told The Post on March 24 that the workshop was a crucial step as it marked the beginning of preparations for Cambodia's civil aviation sector to become a member of the CTC.
The workshop provided the attendees with an understanding of current trends in international aviation development and an opportunity to network with major American aviation companies such as Boeing.
He explained that in order to become a CTC member, Cambodia needs to meet certain requirements, such as improving relevant laws and regulations related to the aviation sector, which will require technical assistance from development partners like aircraft manufacturers, including Boeing and Airbus.
“The benefits that CTC member states receive are two-fold: There are legal and economic benefits,” he added.
According to Chanserey Vutha, the idea of the Kingdom joining the CTC dates back to 2019, but it was delayed several times due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The US embassy expressed its support for the workshop via social media.
“Pleased to the Boeing Company and Cambodia’s State Secretariat of Civil Aviation for an important workshop on Cape Town Convention ratification, which would provide the Kingdom greater access to financial resources for Cambodia’s aviation market,” it said.
“As a global leader in the aviation industry, Boeing is committed to supporting Cambodia’s aviation sector development by bringing even greater prosperity to our two countries,” it added.
In his closing remarks at the 2024 SSCA Annual Performance Review, Havannall highlighted the latest positive developments in the Kingdom’s civil aviation sector.
In 2024, Cambodia’s three international airports (Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville) connected international flights to 12 countries, including the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong and Taiwan, totalling 34 destinations or cities worldwide. At present 31 domestic and international airlines are operating in Cambodia.
Cambodia saw approximately 6.24 million air passengers in 2024, a 22% increase compared to 2023, while air cargo reached 77,800 tons, a 40% increase. The total number of flights was 58,354, an increase of 14%.
He added that these positive developments will not stop here, as the secretariat is working hard on many initiatives and has rolled out the “2025-2030 Civil Aviation Strategy”, which aims to accelerate the development of the aviation sector.
