Cambodia Increases Air Connectivity With More Airlines Looking To Offer International Flights in 2025
As the expected launch of operations of Phnom Penh’s new Techo International Airport (TIA) draws closer with the current date of July 2025 earmarked, Turkish Airlines looks to start offering direct flights, while Emirates has signalled intentions to offer flights to Siem Reap.
Turkish Airlines - Phnom Penh Flights Expected in Mid-2025?
Turkish Airlines will reportedly launch Phnom Penh flights by June 2025 in the airline's bid to expand its global network and strategy to increase its presence in underserved regions and strengthen connectivity between Turkey and Southeast Asia - 2025 also represents the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom and Türkiye.
The route from Istanbul to Phnom Penh is pencilled in just before the new airport launches in the Cambodian capital - this follows years of negotiations and reports on the two countries being connected for the first time with a direct flight. It should be noted there currently is no official announcement from the airline but the route has been reported by several aviation news outlets.
An Istanbul-Phnom Penh route would represent Turkish Airlines’ commitment to increasing its presence in Southeast Asia and Turkish Airlines’ entry into this market will provide travellers with convenient options for reaching the Kingdom.
In April 2024, former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, now President of the Senate of the Kingdom of Cambodia, met with Ülkü Kocaefe, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Cambodia and talks included Turkish Airlines' plans to expand flights to Cambodia. This was followed by a May 2024 official visit by the Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sok Chenda Sophea to Türkiye.
Thuon Sinan, president of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Cambodia, said at the time that Türkiye would be a good route as the country is a major hub which connects the Middle East and Europe.
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Emirates To Offer Siem Reap Flights in 2025?
Emirates relaunched its Cambodian-bound flights in 2024, with flights operating from Phnom Penh, via Singapore, and on to Dubai. Several reports in February 2025 indicate that the airline will expand its services this year, with flights to several destinations planned, including Siem Reap.
Emirates' Asia-heavy expansion includes several potential cities, including in Asia: Chengdu, China, Da Nang, Vietnam, and Siem Reap, Cambodia - these are based on internal memos leaked so are not officially announced.
This follows a meeting and request in January between Huot Hak, Cambodian Minister of Tourism, and Mohammed Al Qassim, Country Manager of Emirates Airlines in Cambodia, to increase direct flights to Siem Reap and Sihanoukville in addition to Phnom Penh.
The route has not officially been confirmed by Emirates, but it is thought that the flight would likely be operated as a fifth-freedom flight, in which a carrier connects two cities that are not in the flight's country of origin. In Siem Reap’s case, it would likely be a stopover in Singapore much like the current Phnom Penh route.
More routes to Cambodia will help promote Cambodia’s tourism potential through the company’s vast network and attract more international tourists to visit Cambodia. A request was also made to highlight Cambodia’s tourism on Emirates Airline’s media channels.
Cambodian officials announced at the start of 2025 that the UAE and the Middle East were seen as “promising new source markets” and Din Somethearith, president of the Cambodia Tourism Federation, noted targeting the Arabic nations as a means to fill in the lower arrival figures from China,” compared to pre-pandemic levels and that the visitors from the Middle East also have the potential to fill Cambodia’s low season lull.
Qatar offers direct flights between Phnom Penh and Doha, with a stop in Ho Chi Minh City, and in October 2025, Etihad will also begin flying between Abu Dhabi and Phnom Penh.
In 2024, Cambodia welcomed around 6.7 million international tourists and approximately 430,000 of them were Muslim travellers. Cambodian officials have visited the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other countries to strengthen bilateral ties.
The tourism industry contributed 9.4 per cent to Cambodia’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024 according to a report from the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) released on February 24, 2025. The Ministry has set a target of 7.5 million foreign tourists in 2025.