Istanbul–Phnom Penh: A new air bridge to boost Cambodian tourism

The inauguration of the direct Istanbul–Phnom Penh flight, operated by Turkish Airlines, marks a new era for Cambodian tourism. According to H.E. Huot Hak, Cambodia’s Minister of Tourism, this strategic launch is expected to strengthen the kingdom’s visibility on the international stage and attract new flows of visitors from around the world.

At the welcome ceremony held on December 11 at Techo International Airport, the minister praised a “concrete and promising success,” made possible thanks to the vision of Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet and the close collaboration between the Cambodian and Turkish governments, the Embassy of Turkey, Turkish Airlines, as well as public and private actors in the tourism sector.

“By connecting Phnom Penh to an international hub serving more than 350 destinations in 130 countries, we are opening a global showcase for Cambodia’s tourism potential and investment opportunities,” the minister said.

The new air service, operated three times a week aboard a Boeing 777-300ER, strengthens the country’s connectivity. Turkish Airlines thus becomes the 36th airline to serve Cambodia, now linking the kingdom to 46 cities across 17 countries.

This development comes in the context of a sustained recovery in air traffic: according to the Cambodia State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA), the country recorded 5.66 million international passengers in the first ten months of 2025, a 14% increase compared to the previous year.

Such numbers point to a promising future for the national tourism industry — now driven by increasingly open global air connectivity.