Until now, Cambodia Airways has operated exclusively with A320-family jets, offering a straightforward model focused on trunk routes and higher-capacity destinations. That changes with the introduction of a platform optimised for short sectors, lighter loads and runways where jets would be operationally or economically inefficient.
The ATR’s arrival is not immediate, delivery is expected in early 2026, but the early positioning signals intent. Cambodia’s domestic landscape offers multiple airports that are physically suitable for turboprops but commercially unviable for jets. The ATR 72-600 is ideally suited to these conditions, balancing lower fuel burn with the ability to maintain frequency on routes where load factors would be insufficient for larger aircraft.
Cambodia Airways is not the only carrier with designs on short-haul growth. But its decision to diversify fleet composition now, ahead of widespread market recovery and with a view toward longer-term regional connectivity, implies a willingness to play a longer game. Crucially, this coincides with infrastructure shifts such as the opening of Phnom Penh’s new Techo International Airport.
Avation PLC (LON:AVAP) is a commercial passenger aircraft leasing company owning a fleet of aircraft which it leases to airlines across the world. Avation’s future focus are new technology low CO2 emission aircraft.
