Air Cambodia Eyes Fleet Upgrade with Up to 20 Boeing 737 MAX 8 Jets

Air Cambodia, the national airline partially owned by the Cambodian government, is preparing to place an aircraft order for up to 20 Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets, with 10 firm and 10 options, under a new U.S.–Cambodia trade deal.

Announced by Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol, the move is linked to a significant tariff reduction on Cambodian exports to the U.S., part of broader economic diplomacy.

This prospective purchase marks a strategic shift for Air Cambodia, which has traditionally operated Airbus A320 family planes and ATR 72 turboprops. If the order materializes, it would be the airline’s first investment in Boeing aircraft and could expand its fleet from around six current aircraft to nearly 30 planes.

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 offers the airline improved fuel efficiency (up to 20% more economical than legacy A320 variants), a range of approximately 3,500 nautical miles, and seating for 170–189 passengers.

These are attributes well-suited to the airline’s ambition to serve regional routes across Southeast Asia, including flights to Vietnam, Thailand, China, and India.

Political pressure from the Trump administration, which has threatened several countries with tariffs claiming disadvantages for the US, has persuaded some governments to offer compensation, such as the promise of orders for Boeing aircraft.

The offensive prompted Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury to call Trump Boeing’s “powerful sales guy.”

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