Thai Airways Halves Cambodia Flights Amid Dip in Demand

Thai Airways has temporarily cut its daily services between Cambodia and Thailand, citing a fall in passenger numbers — a move that Cambodian officials see as a chance for local carriers to step up.

From 27 to 31 July, the airline has reduced its Phnom Penh and Siem Reap routes to Bangkok from two daily flights to just one. The decision reflects what Sinn Chanserey Vutha, Secretary of State and spokesperson for Cambodia’s State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA), called a “temporary decline in demand”.

“This period of reduced service opens up an opportunity for Cambodian airlines to strengthen their grip on this vital route,” Vutha said. Despite the cutback, he stressed that overall air traffic between the two countries remains stable and largely unaffected, with other carriers operating normally.

Tourism leaders, however, say the downturn is more than just a blip. Chhay Sivlin, President of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents, points to recent tensions along the Cambodian-Thai border as a major factor. “All Thai tourist trips have been cancelled, and charter flights organised by Thai companies suspended,” she noted, underlining the ripple effects on the broader travel industry.

The disruption is particularly painful for Cambodia, which depends on land crossings and regional hubs like Thailand and Vietnam to funnel international tourists into the country. With fewer overland arrivals and airline services in flux, both confidence and demand have taken a hit.

Still, officials remain hopeful. The SSCA expects passenger volumes to rebound in the near future, depending on improvements in regional conditions and traveller sentiment. Until then, Cambodian airlines may find themselves in a rare position to reclaim market share on a key cross-border route.

-2025-07-29