Chinese-owned Cambodian airline to expand to Macau

Cambodia Bayon Airlines Co. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Joy Air Holdings and Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), is reportedly seeking to expand its international services to Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, South Korea and Japan, according to a statement from the company’s agency in Taiwan, reported Focus Taiwan News Channel.
The airline plans to recruit pilots from the now dissolved Taiwan TransAsia Airways, which ceased operations in November 2016 on account of heavy debts and losses.
Bayon was founded in 2014, with its headquarters in Phnom Penh and operational bases in Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. The latter city is home to Jack Lam’s Fortuna Casino, and current plans are being developed to transform it into a “Casino City” with “Macau of Southeast Asia status,” The Cambodia Daily reported.
The company also has an international station in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.
Several safety issues have, however, been reported regarding Bayon’s China-built MA60 (“Modern Ark 60) aircraft, which constitute the totality of its fleet to date – the company says it will receive five A320’s and five more MA60’s by the end of 2017. According to several international media outlets, the MA60 has been banned from flying in the U.S., Europe, UK, New Zealand, Australia, and Myanmar.