Flight K6929, operated by national carrier Air Cambodia, completed the inaugural direct flight between Shenzhen, China and Siem Reap, touching down at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport at 7.50am this morning, July 18, with a full load of passengers.
Sin Chanserey Vutha, spokesperson at the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA), told The Post that this was the first-ever direct flight connecting the historical tourism site of Angkor Wat — a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Cambodia — with Shenzhen, one of China’s four largest cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen).
“Siem Reap, home to the renowned Angkor Wat and a favourite destination among Chinese tourists, has long relied on transit through Phnom Penh due to the lack of direct flights. The launch of this new route is expected to significantly boost tourist flows from China’s Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to Cambodia and inject fresh momentum into the ‘China-Cambodia Tourism Year 2025’,” he said.
He noted that welcome ceremonies for the inaugural flight were held in both Siem Reap and Shenzhen.
Zhan David, CEO of Air Cambodia, explained that July 19 marks the 67th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cambodia and China.
The new direct route, launched in collaboration with Shenzhen Airport Group and Yunnan Air Investment (Cambodia) Airport Management Co., Ltd., fills a market gap for direct flights between Siem Reap and China’s four major cities. It not only facilitates tourism from the Greater Bay Area and beyond but also encourages large numbers of European and American tourists currently in Siem Reap to travel to China.
“This is a strong step toward realising the vision set by the leaders of both countries in April, declaring 2025 as the ‘China-Cambodia Tourism Year’. It also serves as a heartfelt tribute to 67 years of China-Cambodia friendship,” added David.
According to Air Cambodia, the new route will operate weekly using Airbus A320/A321 aircraft. Departures from Siem Reap to Shenzhen will be every Thursday at 9.30pm, with return flights every Friday at 6.20am. Business class and economy are each offered on the approximately 2 hour and 30-minute flight.
A press release explained that the addition of the new route provides a more convenient travel option for residents in China’s Greater Bay Area, allowing for flexible travel into Siem Reap and departures through Phnom Penh — or vice versa — which helps reduce travel costs, save time and enhances the overall travel experience.
A report from the SSCA indicated that from January to June 2025, Cambodia’s three international airports (Phnom Penh, Siem Reap-Angkor, and Preah Sihanouk) saw notable positive growth in air transport. There were 32,379 two-way flights, an increase of nearly 13% compared to the same period in 2024. Passenger volume reached 3,528,737 — up over 16%, while air cargo totalled 36,932 tonnes — an increase of more than 6%.
