Cambodia Angkor Air, the national flag carrier of Cambodia is set to launch the first-ever direct flights between Phnom Penh and New Delhi starting June 16, 2024 to tap the potential of the Indian market. Operating four times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday) under flight codes K6760/K6761, this service marks a significant milestone in enhancing connectivity between the two nations.
This inaugural flight comes during the “Cambodia-India Cultural Tourism Year” of 2024, symbolising a major step towards strengthening economic, cultural, and tourism ties.
Cambodia is fast emerging as one of the most popular tourist destinations for Indian travellers. Notably, in 2023, a total of 39,599 visitors from India to travelled to Cambodia. This reflects a hike of close to 125 per cent in numbers comparison to previous when 17,387 visitors travelled to Cambodia in 2022.
Dr David Yuhong Zhan, Director of Cambodia Tourism Board (CTB), Vice Chairman, and CEO of Cambodia Angkor Air, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “It’s my honor to deepen the traditional friendship between India and Cambodia through our historic direct service. We commit to warmly show the ‘Khmer Smile’, providing safe and comfortable journeys, with plans to open new routes connecting Siem Reap to Delhi and Phnom Penh to other cities in India soon.”
He added, “This new route not only meets the growing demand for direct connectivity between Cambodia and India but also reinforces our dedication to providing passengers with unparalleled service, comfort, and convenience.”
In an exclusive conversation with ETTravelWorld, Eng Moline, Chief Commercial Officer, Cambodia Angkor Air at the launch event highlighted that India is a key market for Cambodia with high potential for tourism growth.
Akasa Air will launch daily non-stop flights connecting Jeddah with Mumbai, further ramping up this service to 12 direct flights per week from July 21, 2024. The launch of direct flights between Jeddah and key Indian cities aligns with the surge in travel demand witnessed between India and Saudi Arabia, particularly in 2023, reflecting the growing ties and opportunities between the two nations.
The airline plans to promote Cambodia tourism in India through roadshows and promotional campaigns, and has partnered with APG, an Indian GSA, to support these efforts. The CCO also discussed the possibility of expanding routes to other Indian cities.”We aim to expand its network to India, attracting more investors and tourists. Talking about future plans, first we are looking to increase the frequency on the Delhi-Phenom Penh route. Going forward, we are planning to connect Delhi and Mumbai with Krong Siam Rep. Moving ahead, we can also consider starting flight to Cambodia from Kolkata and Bengaluru as well,” Moline informed.
During the launch roadshow, Kuong Koy, Cambodia’s Ambassador to India, highlighted the potential for direct flights to facilitate Indian investment in Cambodia. Seila Hul, Under Secretary of State of Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism, extended a warm invitation to Indian tourists. The event saw participation from nearly two hundred representatives from the tourism and civil aviation sectors of both countries.
The airline is also the only Cambodian airline to have received the IOSA safety audit certification, reflecting its commitment to excellence, safety, and customer satisfaction.
