Market conditions have prompted several Thai carriers to reduce their daily flights to Cambodia, according to a spokesperson for the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA).
Sin Chansereyvutha added that Cambodian authorities are continuing to enforce a ban on flights over potential conflict zones along the Thai-Cambodian border.
Speaking to The Post on the morning of August 5, he explained that last week’s military clashes led to a decline in passenger flow between the two neighbouring kingdoms.
Three Thailand-based airlines, Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways and Vietjet, have cut their daily flights from two to one.
“The number of domestic and international airlines flying between Cambodia and Thailand remains unchanged. The three airlines that reduced their flights did so due to market factors, as there are not as many passengers traveling as before,” said Chansereyvutha.
He noted that Cambodian authorities will continue to enforce the July 26 measure which requires airlines to avoid flying over potential conflict areas. He explained that this is a preventative measure, aimed at avoiding any accidents, and based on past experiences.
The spokesperson also reiterated that Phnom Penh’s $2 billion Techo International Airport is on schedule to begin operations on September 9, in accordance with previously announced plans.
Construction of the new 4F-level facility is scheduled for three phases. Phase 1 is expected to accommodate over 15 million passengers annually by 2030. Phase 2 will allow for 30 million passengers by 2050, and in Phase 3, starting in 2050, an additional runway will be built to handle 45 million passengers per year.
In 2024, Cambodia received a total of 6.24 million air travellers, a 22% increase compared to 2023, and saw 58,354 total flights, up more than 14%.
For the first half of 2025, the country saw over 3.53 million air passengers, a 16% increase compared to the same period in 2024, with total flights reaching 32,379, an increase of nearly 13%.
