Hong Kong Express launches direct flights to Cambodia's Siem Reap

Hong Kong Express, a Hong Kong- based low-cost airline, launched its direct flights to Cambodia's Siem Reap province on Tuesday, becoming the second airline operating scheduled flights between China's Hong Kong and Cambodia 's Siem Reap, according to a statement from the Cambodia Airports.

The airline "made its debut this (Tuesday) morning when its Airbus 320 with 166 passengers on board touched down the airport's runway at 08:33 am local time," said the statement.

The carrier's chief executive officer, Andrew Cowen, and Phan Peuv, consul general of the Royal Consulate of Cambodia to China's Hong Kong and Macao, flew from Hong Kong and joined the celebrations held at the airport, it said.

With the introduction of Hong Kong Express, Siem Reap International Airport steps up its connectivity to and from Hong Kong by offering daily flights from two different airlines, including Dragonair.

"We are delighted to welcome Hong Kong Express, one of the fastest developing low-cost carriers in the region," Bruno Desveaux, general manager of Siem Reap International Airport, said.

Siem Reap houses the Angkor Archeological Park, which was inscribed in the UNESCO's World Heritage list in 1992. It is the country's most popular tourist destination.

According to government figures, the 12th century site attracted nearly 1.24 million foreign tourists in the first seven months of 2015, earning 35 million U.S. dollars from ticket sales.