KHTOEN NEWS: A total of more than 6 million national and international passengers traveled through Cambodia's 3 international airports in 2024, an increase of more than 20 percent compared to the same period in 2023, while the total number of flights was nearly 60,000 from 31 domestic and international airlines.
According to the Air Transport Sector Progress Report of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation of Cambodia, the air transport sector of Cambodia's three international airports (Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville International Airports) in 2024 increased significantly, with a total of 58,354 inbound and outbound flights, an increase of 14 percent compared to 2023, and 6,241,842 inbound and outbound passengers, an increase of 14 percent compared to 2023. The share of inbound and outbound air freight (bidirectional) was 77,752 tons, an increase of 40 percent.
State Secretary and Spokesperson of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation Sin Chansirivutha told Phnom Penh Post on January 24 that after a steep decline to zero during 2020-2021 due to the spread of COVID-19, Cambodia's air transport sector has gradually started to recover since the beginning of 2022, with an average growth of more than 10 percent annually.
For 2025, according to the forecast, the number of flights through the 3 international airports will be able to exceed 2024.
Currently, 27 domestic and international airlines are operating at Cambodia's 3 international airports.
He stated: "This forecast is based on the scientific basis of the growth over the past few years, the travel trends of tourists following the COVID-19 crisis, and the recovery of the global tourism sector.
He added: "We expect Cambodia's air transport sector to grow further, with the current requests for new destination connections as well as proposals for a continuous increase in flights."
He also said that the activities of expanding the number of flights of national and international airlines operating in Cambodia are taking a significant step forward, with the national airline Air Cambodia recently opening its new route between Phnom Penh and Koh Phu Kok with 3 flights per week.
He claimed: "Apart from the above progress, next February, Cambodia will receive another new Indian airline IndiGo flight that flies non-stop between Kolkata - Siem Reap - Kolkata.
The spokesperson also mentioned that the new Techo International Airport (Phnom Penh), which is scheduled to officially open in July, will facilitate air travel in Cambodia to an even greater level.
Currently, the two countries have direct flights between Phnom Penh and New Delhi operated by Air Cambodia since June 2024.
Mr. Khieu Thi, Chairman of the Angkor Tour Guide Association, said that although the number of flights and air visitors to Cambodia (Siem Reap International Airport) is not as high as before 2020, this is a sign of the recovery of Cambodia's tourism sector.
The potential and abundance of tourist attractions, as well as wider promotion, will help attract more investors, especially foreign tourists, to visit Cambodia.
He claimed: "Connecting direct flights from major cities outside to Cambodia is sure to make more international tourists travel to Cambodia.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia will receive a total of 6.7 million foreign visitors in 2024, an increase of 22.9 percent compared to 2023 and an increase of 1.4 percent compared to 2019.
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