Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Cambodia is significantly expanding its air connectivity with South Korea and China through new flight routes operating from the Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (SAI). This strategic move is aimed at bolstering the nation’s tourism sector and enhancing its international links.
Mr. Sin Chansereyvutha, Secretary of State and Spokesperson for the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA), highlighted that these expanded flight services are crucial for supporting the growth of Cambodia’s tourism industry and strengthening its global connectivity.
Regarding the expansion of services to South Korea, Trinity Airways (TW) will operate daily seasonal flights connecting Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (SAI) to Seoul-Incheon International Airport (ICN). These flights are scheduled to run from December 24 until March 3, 2027, utilizing a Boeing 737-800 aircraft. This timing is strategically aligned with Cambodia’s peak tourist season, aiming to maximize visitor arrivals.
In parallel, China Eastern Airlines (MU) is increasing its flight operations between Kunming (KMG) and Siem Reap (SAI). These additional flights commenced on October 25, offering 3 to 4 services per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, also operated by a Boeing 737-800. This particular expansion is expected to greatly improve travel accessibility from southwestern China, a key market for Cambodian tourism.
According to the Cambodian Civil Aviation spokesperson, these new flight routes to South Korea and China are anticipated to significantly boost the number of international tourists visiting Cambodia. This will generate substantial economic opportunities, particularly for Siem Reap province. The enhancements are set to further solidify Siem Reap’s reputation as a premier cultural and heritage tourism destination. Furthermore, these operations support Cambodia’s broader strategy to diversify and expand its international air routes, strengthening connections with these two vital Northeast Asian tourism markets.
The State Secretariat of Civil Aviation remains committed to facilitating airline operations, fostering market access, and collaborating closely with key stakeholders in both the aviation and tourism sectors. This concerted effort is geared towards driving Cambodia’s connectivity and overall economic development.
Adding to its growing network, Cambodia will also launch new flights between Phnom Penh and Vientiane, Laos, starting December 15. These services will operate three times a week on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
Data from the Cambodian Civil Aviation Secretariat for the first nine months of the current year indicates that the total number of flights, both inbound and outbound, at Cambodia’s three international airports (Techo International Airport, Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport, and Sihanoukville International Airport) reached 46,721. This figure represents a 2% decrease compared to a similar period previously. Passenger traffic, covering both arrivals and departures, totaled 4,558,155, showing an 11% decline. Conversely, air cargo volume experienced an 18% increase, reaching 76,294 tons, while overflights across Cambodian airspace also rose by 8%, amounting to 69,149 flights.
During the same nine-month period, Cambodia welcomed 2,464,033 international tourists, marking a significant decrease of 43.7% compared to previous levels. Reports from the Ministry of Tourism reveal that the largest groups of international visitors were from Vietnam, with approximately 650,000 arrivals, followed closely by China with around 640,000. American tourists accounted for over 140,000 visitors. Other notable nationalities included French (over 84,000), British (nearly 82,000), Indonesian (over 70,000), Australian (nearly 67,000), Japanese (over 65,000), Korean (over 60,000), and Thai (over 50,000).
Notably, all top ten source countries for tourists visiting Cambodia during this nine-month period experienced declines ranging from 5.6% to over 90%. The sharpest drops were observed in tourist numbers from Thailand, which fell by 94.7%, followed by South Korea with a 52.1% decrease, and Indonesia, which saw nearly a 40% reduction in visitors.
