Phnom Penh — AirAsia Cambodia CEO, Mr. Nam Vissoth joined aviation leaders at the 2026 Aviation Festival Asia (AFA26) to discuss trends shaping the low-cost carrier market and opportunities for expanding regional connectivity across Asia-Pacific. He shared insights on Cambodia’s exciting future in aviation and the evolving APAC low-cost carrier (LCC) model.

Throughout the panel discussions and media engagements, Mr. Vissoth collaborated with esteemed industry figures, including Mr. Kamal Hingorani (Chief Customer Officer of SpiceJet) and Mr. Yasuhiro Fukada (Incoming Chief Executive Officer of ZIPAIR Tokyo), in a session moderated by Ms. Monica Pitrelli of CNBC. Furthermore, he participated in an exclusive interview with Danny Lee of Bloomberg News to outline the strategic development of Cambodia’s aviation sector.

“Cambodia is not a mature aviation market yet, but it is entering its first real expansion cycle. AirAsia is stepping in to unlock that developing demand, bypassing expensive traditional hubs to connect Cambodia directly to the rest of Asia,” he said.

Mr. Vissoth also pointed to the importance of infrastructure in supporting long-term growth, particularly the development of Techo International Airport—a $2.3 billion project supporting the expansion of Cambodia’s capacity for international passenger and cargo traffic. The new airport is seen as a key step in positioning Cambodia to compete more effectively with established regional aviation hubs.
“Now, Cambodia has the infrastructure to create an aviation ecosystem similar to the region. However, infrastructure alone is not enough: all public and private stakeholders have to work together to unlock the full potential as what Cambodia is currently doing”, Mr. Vissoth affirmed.

Since launching operations in 2024, AirAsia Cambodia has been expanding its presence in the local market as part of the wider AirAsia Aviation Group network.
Reflecting on leadership in a fast-moving industry, Mr. Vissoth said growing an airline in a young market requires balancing growth ambitions with discipline and resilience. As one of the region’s younger aviation leaders, he emphasized the importance of making data-driven decisions and properly embedding artificial intelligence into daily operations. He cautioned that while AI is the industry’s next major differentiator, its successful implementation depends entirely on human capital, noting that the ultimate winners will be those who seamlessly combine technology with skilled people and clear vision.

“Driven by a rapidly emerging middle class and our growing integration within ASEAN, Cambodia is entering a transformative era of aviation,” he said. “By providing accessible low fares, we are giving our middle class the unprecedented ability to travel abroad. This is about more than just aviation—it is about raising living standards and physically binding Southeast Asia closer together, creating a virtuous cycle that boosts our economy and expands the middle class even further.”

Industry forums such as AFA26 bring together airlines, airports and aviation stakeholders to examine challenges and opportunities shaping the sector, including competition among low-cost carriers, digital transformation and evolving passenger demand across Asia-Pacific.