Cambodia’s skies reach record 6.98M passengers

Cambodia’s aviation industry has soared to new heights, recording nearly seven million passenger trips in 2025 – the highest figure in its history. The State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) confirmed on Wednesday that 6.98 million travellers passed through the country’s three international airports last year, a 12 percent rise on 2024.

The surge reflects Cambodia’s growing connectivity with the wider world. Flight movements climbed to 64,821, up 11 percent year-on-year, while new international routes and carriers expanded the country’s reach. However, cargo volumes dipped by 12 percent, highlighting a shift towards passenger growth over freight.

Sinn Chanserey Vutha, SSCA spokesman, credited the boom to stronger infrastructure and increased international services. The newly developed 4F-class Techno International Airport has played a pivotal role, alongside the arrival of major airlines such as Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Etihad, IndiGo and Firefly. Cambodia now hosts 36 airlines linking 46 destinations across 17 countries, including key hubs in ASEAN, China, South Korea, India and Japan.

Tourism leaders believe the aviation upswing will further energise the Kingdom’s visitor economy. Chhay Sivlin, president of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents, pointed to visa facilitation measures and exemptions for Chinese travellers as catalysts for future growth. “Air connection contributes to expanding Cambodia’s air connectivity to the world and to promote the Kingdom’s tourism potential,” she said.

The figures underscore the long-term impact of Cambodia’s Open Sky Policy, introduced in 1999 to liberalise air travel and encourage international exchange. Since then, the sector has steadily expanded, with government reforms – including a draft Law on Civil Aviation – now aimed at modernising regulation and sustaining momentum.

For Cambodia, the record-breaking passenger numbers are more than a statistical milestone. They signal a country positioning itself as a regional hub, leveraging aviation to drive tourism, trade and cultural exchange. With new carriers arriving and infrastructure improving, the skies above Cambodia look set to remain busy – and increasingly global.

-2026-01-18