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Often overshadowed by its big-name neighbors, Cambodia is rapidly developing its long-haul connections. On Monday, two of the world’s biggest carriers announced new routes to the country.
Turkish Airlines will launch flights from its Istanbul hub to Phnom Penh. The three-times weekly service starts on December 10 and will operate via Bangkok. It joins Abu Dhabi’s Etihad in adding the Cambodian capital to its route map this year.
The second of Monday’s announcements was arguably the more notable. Emirates – by most metrics the world’s largest international airline – will start flying to Siem Reap. The Cambodian city is best known for its easy access to the ancient temples of Angkor, but it is also gaining a reputation for health and wellness travel.
Like Turkish, Emirates is routing its new Cambodian flights via Bangkok. Starting June 3, the airline will fly three times a week from Dubai using Boeing 777 widebody aircraft. Emirates will be the only airline from outside the Asia-Pacific region to serve Siem Reap on a regular basis.
Securing the Dubai-based giant is a big win for the city, but it will do little to compensate for the loss of what was until recently its largest market.
China Capacity Drops 98%
Before the pandemic, China accounted for a third of international air capacity into Siem Reap. This was the biggest source market of any country. However, Skift analysis of Cirium Diio data shows a drop of more than 98% in commercial flights since its pre-Covid peak.
On an average week in March 2018, there were 151 flights, departing from 26 different Chinese airports to Siem Reap. Almost 26,000 seats were available across 12 different airlines spanning both Chinese and Cambodian carriers.
By March 2019, the market had softened slightly, with around 21,500 seats available on 124 weekly flights.
Fast forward to March 2025, and just one route is currently operating between Siem Reap and China – a three-times weekly flight operated by China Eastern. The service to Kunming in Yunnan province offers 396 seats a week using a single-aisle Boeing 737 jet. Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport is operated by a Chinese firm based in Yunnan.
Looking deeper into 2025, nonstop flights remain scarce. There is no additional capacity to any Chinese city due to be added before the end of the calendar year.
Notably, flights between China and Phnom Penh – the country’s main financial and political center – have rebounded to pre-Covid levels. This could suggest it is more discretionary Chinese leisure travelers who are staying away.
China’s Outbound Visitors
Changes to Chinese overseas travel patterns are not unique to Siem Reap but they are particularly pronounced in the Cambodian city.
China’s outbound travel market remains in recovery mode post-Covid, with approximately 130 million trips made in 2024. It’s a big number, but still short of the pre-pandemic high of 155 million trips. Travel trends and popular destinations have also evolved – even with large numbers traveling, they aren’t necessarily visiting the same places.
Cambodia Relocates Angkor Wat Communities in Controversial Tourism Touch-Up
Cultural sites like Angkor Wat must be preserved, but that shouldn’t come at the cost of local livelihoods. Destinations shouldn’t treat the two as if they are in conflict.
As previously reported by Skift, Chinese travelers are becoming more focused on value. The cost of travel is a primary barrier to selling outbound travel, according to recent findings from Dragon Trail Research.
As one of Southeast Asia’s most affordable tourist destinations, this trend should play well for Siem Reap and Cambodia more generally – but there may be other factors at play.
Safety Concerns in Southeast Asia
Cambodia is facing reputational issues among some Chinese consumers. The kidnapping of Chinese actor Wang Xing in neighboring Thailand made headline news, with a high number of canceled bookings reported by the Bangkok Post. Wang was ultimately rescued from a cyber-fraud center in a frontier town just over the border in Myanmar.
The high-profile incident reinforced existing fears, including those stemming from the film ‘No More Bets.’ The Chinese movie sparked a broader discussion about safety in the region, particularly for leisure travelers.
The story follows Chinese nationals who are trafficked to Southeast Asia and forced to commit internet fraud. It is not clear where the film is set but it angered Cambodian authorities who banned it from being shown in the country.
However, recent safety concerns among some Chinese consumers do not appear to be universal. Official visitor numbers suggest Cambodia’s tourism industry is performing well.
The Phnom Penh Post reports that nearly 5 million international tourists visited the country in the first three quarters of 2024, up 22.2% on a year earlier. This comes close to 2019’s all-time record.
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