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Tourism

Etihad Airways to Launch Direct Flights from Abu Dhabi to Phnom Penh

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Cambodia's civil aviation sector is set to reach a new milestone with Etihad Airways' announcement of direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Phnom Penh. This move is seen as a significant step forward in enhancing connectivity between the Middle East and Southeast Asia. The direct flights are scheduled to commence on October 3, 2025, and are expected to have a positive impact on the country's tourism and trade sectors.

Key Takeaways:

  • Etihad Airways will be the first airline to operate direct flights between the Middle East and Phnom Penh, starting October 3, 2025.
  • The new route is expected to have a significant impact on Cambodia's tourism and trade sectors, making it easier for international travelers to visit the country.
  • The direct flights will also enhance connectivity between Abu Dhabi and Phnom Penh, providing a faster and more convenient travel option.
  • The Techo International Airport, which handled an average of 130 flights and 15,000 passengers per day in the first week of operation, will be the hub for the direct flights.
  • 28 airlines currently operate flights to and from Techo International Airport, including 4 domestic airlines and 24 international airlines.
  • The airport has a passenger capacity of 15 million per year for the period 2025-2030, with expansion plans to handle 30 million passengers by 2030 and 50 million by 2050.
  • The presence of Etihad Airways is expected to have significant benefits, especially in the tourism and trade sectors, particularly in connecting travelers from the Middle East to Cambodia and other regions.
  • The number of travelers from the Middle East to Cambodia is currently modest, but the region is a strategic hub, connecting travelers from Europe to Cambodia.

Statistics:

  • Total international tourists in Cambodia from January to July 2025: 3.71 million (-0.8% compared to the same period in 2024)
  • Number of tourists from the UAE in the first 7 months of 2025: 143 (up 15.3% compared to the same period in 2024)
  • Total number of travelers from the Middle East to Cambodia in the first 7 months of 2025: 1,913 (up 7.2% compared to the same period in 2024)
  • Average number of inbound and outbound flights per day at Techo International Airport between September 9 and 15, 2025: 130
  • Average number of passengers per day at Techo International Airport between September 9 and 15, 2025: 15,000
  • Number of passenger movements at Cambodia's three international airports in the January-July 2025 period: 4.08 million (up 16% compared to the same period in 2024)
  • Air cargo volume at Cambodia's three international airports in the January-July 2025 period: 47,218 tons (up 28% compared to the same period in 2024)

Sources:

  • Huot Hak, Cambodian Minister of Tourism, as quoted in "Minister Huot Hak announces direct Etihad flight from Abu Dhabi to Phnom Penh" in The Post, September 15, 2025.
  • Thourn Sinan, president of the Cambodia Chapter of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), as quoted in "Etihad Airways' direct flights to boost Cambodia's tourism" in The Post, September 15, 2025.
  • State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) data on Techo International Airport's first week of operation.
  • SSCA spokesperson Sinn Chanserey Vutha, as quoted in "Etihad Airways' direct flights to Phnom Penh to start in October" in The Post, September 15, 2025.
  • SSCA report on Cambodia's aviation sector for the January-July 2025 period.

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