A Cambodia Angkor Air aircraft – the previous name of Air Cambodia – on the tarmac at Phnom Penh International Airport. Post Staff
National flag carrier Air Cambodia is planning to open up a new Japanese route by the end of the year. The airline’s proposal to fly between Phnom Penh International Airport and Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan, has received approval from the aviation authorities of both nations to permission.
Sinn Chanserey Vutha, secretary of state at the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA), told The Post on April 29 that after receiving the green light from both aviation authorities on April 4, Air Cambodia intends to operate flights from Phnom Penh (PNH) to Kansai (LIX) via Fuzhou, China (FOC) — on the route PNH–FOC–KIX.
According to the initial planning, the flights will run four times a week — on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays — using Airbus A321 aircraft.
“If everything goes smoothly, Air Cambodia could begin its passenger transport operations on this route around October this year,” he added.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia received 6.7 million international tourists in 2024, an increase of 22.9% compared to 2023. Of those, Japanese visitors totalled 112,718, up 30.4%.
Chanserey Vutha also noted that in May, Air Cambodia will receive a new ATR 72-600 twin-turboprop aircraft (MSN 1716), to support its growing operations.
He added that Mao Havannall, minister in charge of the SSCA and chairman of the Air Cambodia board, will travel to France in May to take part in discussions with ATR executives on enhancing aircraft safety and to attend the handover ceremony of the new aircraft in Toulouse, France.
In 2024, Air Cambodia showed notable positive growth. Total revenue increased by approximately 29% compared to 2023, passenger volume rose by 19% and cargo revenue increased by 49%.
Looking ahead to 2025, the airline projects revenue growth of 43.4%, passenger volume growth of 49% and flight frequency increase of 29.5%.
Besides domestic destinations, it operates international flights to four countries, including China (Guangzhou, Zhengzhen, Nanning and Hong Kong), Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hanoi and Phu Quoc), Thailand (Bangkok) and India (New Delhi).
According to the SSCA, in the first quarter of 2025, Cambodia’s three international airports handled a total of 17,434 flights, marking a 19% increase compared to the same period last year. During this time, the number of passengers reached 1,960,635, also an increase of 19%, while cargo throughput totalled nearly 20,000 tons, up 10%.
Hong Vanak, an economist at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, told The Post on April 29 that the introduction of new international flights not only encourages more international tourists to the Kingdom, but also contributes to the growth of international trade.
He noted that the expansion of flight routes reflects the country’s development and shows positive future prospects for the airline.
“The opening up of new flight routes reflects the growth of the company’s operations, the seizing of new opportunities and helps promote Cambodia to more international tourists and foreign investors,” he said.
In 2024, Cambodia-Japan bilateral trade reached a total value of $2.16 billion, up 20.1% compared to 2023. Of that amount, exports to Japan were worth $1.41 billion, up 19.8%, while imports totalled $752 million, up 20.7%.
From mid-2016 until the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, direct flights between Cambodia and Japan were operated by Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways (ANA). However, ANA suspended the flights in mid-2020 and has not resumed them.
