Global airlines are adding more flights to the Kingdom of Cambodia, according to local media reports. The move is especially important for Cambodia after China lifted COVID-related travel restrictions. China is one of Cambodia’s main sources of income from tourism and business investors. “Generally speaking, a majority of airlines that operated before the pandemic are back, except the ones flying from/to Japan and the Gulf region. But Qatar has already announced the resumption of flights linking Doha and Phnom Penh this coming October,” said Norinda Khek, communication director for Cambodia Airports. Before the pandemic in 2019, around 45 airlines connected Cambodia with the world.
This year, several Chinese airlines have revived flights to Cambodian cities. China Eastern Airlines resumed flights to Siem Reap, Air China carried some 125 Chinese tourists from Beijing to the Phnom Penh International Airport recently and Ruili Airlines relaunched flights between Kunming and Sihanoukville. Hainan Airlines restarted services linking Shenzhen and Phnom Penh, according to the reports. Two Indonesian airlines are also reportedly exploring air connectivity with Cambodia, and one domestic air carrier aims to start service to an Indonesian city. Cambodia Angkor Air, the national carrier, which has plans to establish a second headquarters in China, has started flights to Haikou and looks to open routes to Hangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, and Singapore.
Additionally, Cambodia Airways, which has been operating flights to Shenzhen and Chengdu from Phnom Penh, plans to provide air connectivity between Phnom Penh and Beijing. The Phnom-Penh-Beijing flight will be launched on 27 March.
The launch of the new flights is expected to further strengthen the business, investment, culture, and tourism ties between the two cities, according to an announcement by Cambodia Airways. In 2023, the number of inbound passengers is expected to increase to 4.6 million and the number of flights may rise to 280,900.