The launch of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) nonstop route from Phnom Penh to Manila has opened a new gateway to Cambodian travellers to North America and Northeast Asia.

Philippines national carrier inaugurated the new service with the touchdown of its Airbus A320 aircraft at Phnom Penh International Airport on April 1.

And, the return flight to Manila departed in the early hours of April 2, according to a press release from PAL.

The new link to Manila gives Cambodian travellers a choice of connecting flights to six cities in the US and Canada (Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Honolulu, Toronto and Vancouver).

And further connects six cities in Japan (Tokyo Narita, Tokyo Haneda, Fukuoka, Nagoya, Osaka, Sapporo (Chitose), three cities in Australia (Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney) and destinations in New Zealand (Auckland), Papua New Guinea and Guam.

“This pioneer service increases Cambodia’s connections to the rest of the world. We can now invite Americans, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, Japanese and ethnic Cambodian residents of all these countries to visit Phnom Penh by flying via Manila,” said PAL President and COO Jaime J. Bautista.

“We are likewise happy to welcome Cambodian travelers to fly via Manila to these countries, or to visit the Philippines and enjoy easy connections to our many resort islands and festival towns across the 7,100 islands of our archipelago.

“At all points along the journey, travellers will experience PAL’s distinct brand of service marked by the Heart of the Filipino,” he added.

From its hub in Manila, PAL operates the most extensive network of any Southeast Asian airline to North America, with 57 weekly flights to North America, 59 weekly flights to Japan and 27 weekly flights to Australia and New Zealand, said the statement.

The PAL Phnom Penh – Manila service operates five times per week (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays) departing at 12:45am and arriving in Manila at 4:20am on the same day.

Return flights leave Manila five times weekly (Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays) at 10:10pm and land in Phnom Penh at 11:55pm on the same days.

Éric Delobel, CEO of Cambodia Airports, said strengthening connectivity with the Philippines has constantly been a key objective.

“With business opportunities that have grown between the two countries, we believe that air liaison between Manila and Phnom Penh make sense, is sustainable and benefits travellers.

“Also, with eight out 10 Asean countries served, Phnom Penh International Airport has further extended its connectivity in this region.

Indonesia should be the next country to join the extensive network map,” he added.

PAL is deploying a 156-seater Airbus A320 aircraft for Phnom Penh – Manila flights, with 199-seater Airbus A321 aircraft to be assigned during peak days.