Wednesday, 24 September 2008

Passenger tax included in the airline tickets

Siem Reap Airport.

Cambodge Soir

23-09-2008

Since the 1st of September, the passenger tax which has to be paid by any traveller taking the plane on domestic flights is included in the airline ticket.

From now on it’s not necessary any more to stand in line to pay this tax at the counter of the Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports, or to look for change
.

Concerning the introduction of this measure for international flights, Norinda Khek, communications officer at the Société Concessionnaire des Aéroports (SCA), in charge of the three airports in Cambodia, explained that this project was still being examined, without however mentioning any date. “For domestic flights it was relatively easy to organise because there’s only one airline company. It’s more complicated for international flights but we’re working on it”, adds the manager.In Siem Reap, the construction works of the new domestic terminal should end during the month of October. However, the access to the public is not expected for the immediate future. “This new opening is determined by the traffic increase. The companies hesitate to launch new destinations. The price of kerosene is increasing while the demand is decreasing, explained the communications manager.

Today, Siem Reap Airways, subsidiary of Bangkok Airways, is the only domestic company which carries out flights within the Kingdom and over one route only; Phnom Penh – Siem Reap. Paradoxically, in the 1990’s, while the number of tourists was at its lowest point, at least three companies shared the domestic air traffic. Planes were landing in Battambang, Stung Treng and Rattanakiri, now all closed.

The airport of the seaside town of Sihanoukville, managed by SCA, should allow flight connections with the City of Temples. Siem Reap Airways, which had announced the launch of this destination for the 2nd of November now halted this decision. At the company’s headquarters in Phnom Penh, no comment was made concerning any eventual date, despite the promise of commercial flights between Angkor and Sihanoukville during next tourist season. To be followed!

1 comment:

abel said...

Wonderful article, very well explained. i have a website here Airline Passenger TaxMost travellers who don’t use their airline ticket do not realise that they are entitled to a FULL Air Passenger Duty Refund of Government taxes and surcharges. The tax on your ticket is ONLY paid to the Government when you actually board the plane and fly. But airlines are making millions by NOT refunding these taxes to you if you don’t take your flight for whatever reason.