Siem Reap Airways International has been banned from operating at European airports by the European Commission (EC), which has called the carrier's safety standards into question, national media reported Monday.
The EC has released an update to its air carrier "blacklist", banning Siem Reap Airways and other carriers determined not to be in compliance with international standards from operating in Europe, the Phnom Penh Post said.
Siem Reap Airways, a subsidiary of Bangkok Airways International, is licensed by the Cambodian government to offer domestic service between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.
"I can't comment at this time," a manager for Siem Reap Airways attending a meeting in Bangkok told the Post Sunday by phone, but added that the carrier would provide a response later this week.
The carrier currently offers no direct service to European Union countries, and Cambodian aviation officials say the ban was most likely meant as a precautionary measure.
"Siem Reap (Airways) does not fly to Europe. Probably the (EC) was giving a warning beforehand, in case Siem Reap Airways planned to open service to Europe," Him Sarun, chief of Cabinet for the Civil Aviation State Secretariat, was quoted as saying.
Him Sarun said top civil aviation officials, led by Tea Sutha, secretary of state for civil aviation, Keo Sivorn, director of flight operations, and Chea Aun, director general for civil aviation, went to Brussels last week to discuss Cambodia's compliance with standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The ban would not affect current service within Asian countries, Him Sarun said, adding that details from the meeting in Brussels would be released this week.
Source: Xinhua
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