The current armed conflict in the Middle East, which has led to the temporary closure of airspace at major airports in the Gulf region, has resulted in the temporary suspension of connections between Cambodian international airports and several in the Middle East.
According to the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA), Cambodia operates 52 Middle East-linked flights per week. 46 flights per week originate from Techo International Airport, including eight cargo flights, while six connect with Siem Reap’s Angkor International Airport.
Airlines currently providing direct or indirect connections between Cambodia and the Middle East include Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways.
The three airlines serve as key transit gateways for passenger traffic to and from Cambodia. Initial estimates suggest that approximately 12,960 passengers per week, or about 51,840 passengers per month, could be affected.
Sinn Chansereyvutha, SSCA secretary of state, told The Post on March 2 that the Middle East serves as an international transport bridge linking Europe, Africa and North America to Southeast Asia. The recent escalation of military conflict in the Middle East, prompting temporary airspace closures, has significantly disrupted operations at major hub airports in the Gulf region.
He noted that services connected through selected transit hubs in Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi have experienced partial suspension or temporary schedule adjustments. These operational decisions are taken by airlines in response to external regional conditions and are not related to any issue within Cambodia.
“The suspension of flights by the three airlines at this time affects passengers traveling on their respective services. However, if necessary, travellers may transit through other countries,” he said.
“We are in close and continuous coordination with the affected carriers and airport authorities to monitor developments and to facilitate alternative travel arrangements where necessary. We are confident that connectivity will normalize as regional conditions stabilise,” he added.
An SSCA report noted that Cambodia’s civil aviation sector currently has 36 operating airlines (four domestic and 32 international), connecting to 17 countries and 46 cities. Of the 17 countries, Cambodia has air links to eight ASEAN member states, as well as other destinations including China, South Korea, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Taiwan, India, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Japan.
