Cambodia’s Siem Reap welcomes Emirates as Chinese Airlines fade

Skift describes in a new article that in a significant boost to Cambodia’s tourism sector, Emirates is set to launch a new route to Siem Reap, while Chinese airlines continue to scale back their presence in the city. 

Emirates is capitalizing on Siem Reap’s growing potential with the launch of a new route from Dubai in June, while Chinese airlines have significantly reduced their presence in the Cambodian city.

Cambodia, often overshadowed by its larger neighbours, is rapidly enhancing its long-haul flight offerings. Turkish Airlines recently announced new flights from Istanbul to Phnom Penh, starting December 10, and Etihad Airways has also added the Cambodian capital to its network this year.

However, the most notable development came from Emirates. The world’s largest international airline by most measures will begin flying to Siem Reap, renowned for its proximity to the ancient Angkor temples. Starting June 3, Emirates will operate three weekly flights from Dubai using Boeing 777 widebody aircraft. The flights will be routed through Bangkok, making Emirates the only airline from outside the Asia-Pacific region with regular service to Siem Reap.

The arrival of Emirates marks a significant achievement for the city. However, this growth may not be enough to counteract the drastic reduction in Chinese air traffic. Prior to the pandemic, China accounted for a third of all international flights to Siem Reap. However, data from Skift and Cirium Diio shows a more than 98 per cent drop in commercial flights from China since the pre-Covid peak.

While Siem Reap struggles with the decline of Chinese air traffic, flights to Phnom Penh have bounced back to pre-pandemic levels, suggesting that the downturn may be related to discretionary leisure travelers. Additionally, the shift in Chinese travel patterns, with a growing focus on value, could bode well for Cambodia’s affordable tourism sector, though reputational concerns are still an issue.

Despite safety concerns fueled by high-profile incidents, such as the kidnapping of Chinese actor Wang Xing and the controversial film No More Bets, Cambodia’s tourism industry remains strong. According to the Phnom Penh Post, nearly 5 million international tourists visited Cambodia in the first three quarters of 2024, marking a 22.2 per cent increase from the previous year.

By Naila Huseynova