Phnom penh: Air Cambodia and Boeing announced the airline's largest single-aisle order for up to 20 737 MAX airplanes in an agreement unveiled at the Singapore Airshow, marking the Southeast Asian carrier's first purchase of fuel-efficient Boeing airplanes. The airline finalized its firm order for 10 737-8 jets and has the opportunity to acquire 10 more in December 2025.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, with the 737 MAX, Air Cambodia will renew and grow its fleet as air travel plays an increasing role in connecting people and places throughout the region. The airline plans to leverage the 737-8's capabilities, efficiency, and passenger comfort features for its expanding network of high-demand routes across Asia.
Dr. David Zhan, CEO of Air Cambodia, remarked, "The 737-8 gives Air Cambodia the ideal combination of range, capacity, and fuel efficiency to support our next phase of growth." He highlighted that this investment, Air Cambodia's largest narrow-body purchase, would enable the launch of direct services to significant markets across North and Southeast Asia, offer competitively priced travel for passengers, and create local jobs and training opportunities.
The 737-8, with a capacity to fly up to 178 passengers in a two-class configuration and a range of up to 3,500 nautical miles (6,480 kilometers), is suitable for the airline's growing regional network. Air Cambodia is set to benefit from the airplane's flexible capacity and reduced operating costs due to a 20 percent reduction in fuel use and emissions compared to the airplanes it replaces.
Brad McMullen, Boeing Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing, expressed pride in welcoming Air Cambodia as their newest 737 MAX customer. He stated, "We are committed to supporting the growth of aviation in Cambodia and throughout the region as Air Cambodia strengthens ties across Asia with these fuel-efficient airplanes."
Currently, Air Cambodia operates a fleet of six single-aisle and regional jets on domestic and international routes to Vietnam, India, Thailand, China, Japan, and Hong Kong. Boeing's Commercial Market Outlook forecasts that Southeast Asian carriers will need nearly 5,000 new airplanes over the next twenty years, with single-aisle jets comprising more than 80 percent of deliveries.
Air Cambodia, the national full-service carrier of Cambodia, was established by the Royal Government and is headquartered in Phnom Penh with primary hubs at Phnom Penh International Airport and an office in Zhengzhou, China. The airline operates domestic and regional routes across Southeast Asia, China, India, and Japan. IOSA-certified and a three-star Skytrax carrier, Air Cambodia is pursuing rapid growth through fleet modernization, and the order for 10 Boeing 737 MAX supports its expansion.