Mekong Airlines, which suspended flights in mid-May after just three months of service, today said it plans to fly again from Sept 19 with new management and new investors.

The fledgling airline was grounded when the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars), a deadly pneumonia-like disease, devastated tourism in the region but it now believes it is set "for a strong comeback", according to a company statement.

"It was the worst of times," managing director Chung Leik Yok was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency about the false start earlier this year.

Chung rounded up a consortium to revive the airline with a recapitalisation exercise of US15 million, with Malaysian investors including Chrichton Sdn Bhd and Asian Aircraft Services, the agency said. The breakdown of investment was not given.

Leased aircraft

The airline was re-launched here today by Cambodia's commercial counsellor to Malaysia, Uch Kim Yon.

Cambodia-based parent company Mekong Air Services is still working out government-to-government agreements and slot times for the flights, and is hoping to offer services from the capital Phnom Penh to Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Singapore and Hong Kong in the first phase of its service.

It aims to include Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Kunming, Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi in its destinations from October, the statement said.

It will start operations with a leased 737-200 and a Fokker aircraft but plans to increase its fleet to six in October. - AFP