Flying to Cambodia

Overview

With fewer than 5 million visitors arriving by air, Cambodia has limited air traffic and only three commercial airports. The first is Phnom Penh, the capital, which handles 1.5 to 2 million passengers annually despite offering around fifty destinations. Sihanoukville Airport, meanwhile, serves just tens of thousands of regional travellers.

Then there’s the new Siem Reap/Angkor Airport. Opened in 2023, it was designed to accommodate up to 12 million passengers per year by 2040 and become Cambodia’s primary air hub and main entry point by air. While it hasn’t yet reached that capacity, its traffic is growing steadily and has already surpassed that of the capital’s airport.

Local airlines

The number of local airlines is also limited, with just four—all relatively new. The oldest, Air Cambodia, the national carrier serving around fifteen regional cities, was only founded in 2009. This may reflect the country’s ambition to develop its aviation sector.

Others include Cambodia Airways, AirAsia Cambodia (a local subsidiary of the AirAsia Group), and Sky Angkor Airlines, all operating routes to several Asian countries, particularly China.

From France and elsewhere

There are no direct flights to Cambodia from France, Europe, Africa, Oceania, or the Americas. Connections are only available from Asia, as well as the UAE, Qatar, and Istanbul via local airlines. Airlines like Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines often offer the best options for reaching Cambodia from Europe. Alternatively, you can transit through Bangkok before continuing to Cambodia.

In general, expect to pay between 800 and 1,000 € for a first-choice ticket, with a total travel time of at least 17 or 18 hours, including layovers.

Additional information