Surge in Airfares Between France and Cambodia Threatens 2026 Tourist Season

The surge in airfares between France and Cambodia, combined with geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the kingdom's poor reputation regarding cybercrime, endangers the 2026 tourist season. While Hun Manet's government attempts a large-scale communication operation, warning signs are flashing red for the local economy.

Key Airfare Indicator

This is an indicator that does not deceive about the state of tension in global air transport. According to data aggregated by online comparators, the average price of a round-trip ticket between Paris and Phnom Penh stands at around 850 euros in economy class as of early March 2026.

While entry-level offers remain displayed starting from 622 euros, checking for immediate departure shows a price range oscillating between 1,000 and 1,600 euros, marking a clear break from levels observed at the beginning of the year.​

According to our analysis of data from booking platforms, in January 2026, before the sudden deterioration of the international context, travelers could pay amounts between 560 and 824 euros, for a stable average of 650 euros.​

This increase, which we estimate at nearly 30% in just two months, reflects volatility that has become daily on search engines.​

Detailed Fare Analysis

A detailed analysis of available offers reveals marked segmentation. The most competitive fares—between 622 and 707 euros—generally require two stopovers, via hubs like Zurich (SWISS) or Shanghai (China Eastern).​

Conversely, major Gulf carriers like Emirates or Qatar Airways now offer their services at fares above 1,150 euros, reaching up to 1,600 euros for the last available seats.​

Geopolitical Scissor Effect

This price surge originates from a conjunction of structural and geopolitical factors. The outbreak, at the end of February, of the conflict between the United States and Iran forced carriers to urgently revise their flight plans. The ban on overflying Iranian, Iraqi airspace, and certain portions of the Gulf has lengthened trajectories.

A Paris-Phnom Penh link, which took 12 to 14 hours via Doha or Dubai, now requires 18 to 22 hours of flight, involving a fuel consumption increase of about 25%.​

Major hubs like Dubai, Doha, or Abu Dhabi, saturated or partially inaccessible, are being bypassed in favor of stopovers in Istanbul, Bangkok, or Singapore, which are saturating in turn. According to our information, more than 50 weekly flights between Cambodia and Europe have been disrupted, effectively reducing capacity on this major route by 20%.​

This supply reduction occurs as the Brent barrel price approaches 120 dollars, and insurers impose "war risk" premiums for alternative overflights.​

Angkor Attendance Decline

Angkor Enterprise, the organization managing the archaeological park, recorded 188,885 entry ticket sales in the first two months of the year, a drop of 32.45% compared to the same period last year. The revenue from these entries amounts to 9.17 million dollars, down more than 30%. This disaffection, which precedes the impact of recent airfare hikes, plunges Siem Reap's tourism professionals into a critical situation, with activity drops estimated between 50 and 75% for guides and tuk-tuks.​

Cybercrime Reputation Challenge

This tourism crisis cannot be explained solely by transport costs. The kingdom faces a major reputational challenge with the "scam centers" issue, these cyber-fraud centers. Questioned by AFP, Prime Minister Hun Manet acknowledged that these networks "destroy the honest economy" and "tarnish the country's reputation".

Between February 14 and 16, 1,089 foreigners involved in cybercrime cases were expelled to China, India, Nigeria, or Vietnam. In total, more than 200 fraudulent sites have been closed.

The most emblematic case remains that of Chen Zhi, a businessman arrested in January and extradited to China, whom U.S. authorities accuse of having directed a "vast cyber-fraud empire" via his Prince Group conglomerate, active in real estate and finance.​

Phnom Penh's Response

Faced with this crisis, Hun Manet has made the fight against these networks a "absolute national priority". A decree now requires condominium owners to verify the legal status of expatriates and report any suspicious activity. Meanwhile, the government is trying to reassure investors. Despite the context, Chinese clientele, the primary source of foreign direct investment (53% of approved amounts this year, or more than 7.8 billion dollars), rose 41.5% in December 2025, thanks in particular to visa exemptions.

The head of government was keen to dispel rumors about the nature of the national economy: "Many people said that Cambodia's GDP rests on scams. No. We rely on pure economies like tourism, manufacturing industry, and other sectors".​

During a recent visit to Brussels, he also sought diplomatic support amid tensions with Thailand, another factor of regional instability.​

The government is now betting on a major communication operation to restore the country's image. As Thourn Sinan of the Pacific Asia Travel Association summarizes, "a destination's reputation is closely linked to its perceived security". If authorities manage to guarantee this security and if air ticket prices begin to decline, the impact on tourism could be durably positive. Otherwise, the 2026 tourist season promises to be one of the most complex of the decade for the former Khmer kingdom.​

Prices

Period	Min Round-Trip Price	Avg Round-Trip Price	Max Round-Trip Price	Change
January 2026 (pre-war)	560 €	650 €	824 €	–
March 2026 (today)	622 €	850 €	1,607 €	+30%

The cheapest today—between 622 and 707 euros—generally require two stopovers, with SWISS or China Eastern. Airlines like Emirates easily exceed 1,150 euros, seats becoming scarce. KAYAK, meanwhile, gives an average price over thirty days at 689 euros, and confirms a useful tip: traveling on Wednesday costs more (616 euros), while on Saturday, it can drop to 559 euros.​

Air France and KLM, caught in the kerosene storm that has surged 84%, pass on the bill: +15 to 40% on their Asian long-haul flights. Even China Southern, with its average of 727 euros, does not escape the dubious reliability of low-cost carriers, some passengers reporting boarding refusals or last-minute schedule changes.