Cambodian carrier Lanmei Airlines on Friday completed its inaugural flight from Sihanoukville to Macau and the tiny island nation of Palau ahead of the airline’s official launch next week, a civil aviation official said yesterday.

Sinn Chanserey Vutha, spokesman of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, said the Chinese-owned budget airline received its air operator’s certificate and will hold an official launch ceremony on October 9. He said Lanmei has already begun operating scheduled service from Sihanoukville to Macau, with the airline approved to operate an onward charter leg to Palau as a fifth freedom flight.

Lanmei is one of three local airlines that operate flights between Cambodia and Macau, and the second after JC International Airlines to offer a direct connection to the Kingdom’s coastal casino hub in Sihanoukville.

“The Macau market is a good opportunity for the airline as it will provide more options for casino tourists and workers,” said Vutha. “Expat workers in Macau can also come to Cambodia on tour packages [for their visa runs].”

According to Vutha, Lanmei has also requested permission to operate flights between Phnom Penh and Macau, Phnom Penh and Hanoi, and Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City.