Turkish Airlines to Launch Direct Flights from Istanbul to Phnom Penh in December 2025
Turkish Airlines has announced plans to launch direct flights from Istanbul, Turkey, to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, starting in December 2025. The airline will operate the route using large aircraft, either the Airbus A330 or the Boeing 777. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Tourism on its official Facebook page.
In addition to this, the ministry also revealed that Emirates Airlines will introduce flights from Dubai to Siem Reap in June 2025. These flights will be operated using a Boeing 777-300ER, further enhancing Cambodia’s international connectivity.
Regarding Turkish Airlines’ new direct flight from Europe to Cambodia, Cambodia New reached out to a spokesperson from the Civil Aviation Authority for confirmation but has not yet received a response.
However, Sin Chansereyvutha, a spokesperson for Cambodia’s Civil Aviation Authority, previously stated that airlines must assess market demand before launching new routes. He emphasized that Cambodia currently lacks direct flights from Europe due to market conditions.
"Demand is the key factor. An airline cannot operate flights with empty seats," he explained.
He also noted that Air France had previously attempted to establish a route to Cambodia but was unsuccessful and eventually discontinued the service.
According to Turkish Airlines, Cambodia will become its seventh destination in Southeast Asia, with Phnom Penh being the 11th city in the region to be included in its network. The airline currently operates flights across 21 countries and 20 cities worldwide, further strengthening its global reach.
