Domestic Airlines

Before 2014, there were only one airline (Cambodia Angkor Air) licensed to operate the domestic flights within Cambodia and that’s why the ticket prices were kept high that time. But nowadays there are several more airlines and the price is definitely more competitive.

One caveat about domestic airlines in Cambodia is that small airlines in Cambodia disappear so regularly. Therefore; it is not recommended so book the ticket of small airlines too far in advance, you couldn’t know that at the time you travel, that airline will stay in business or not.

Following is the list of domestic airlines in Cambodia:

1. Cambodia Angkor Air

Cambodia Angkor Air, which is own by Vietnam Airlines and Cambodian government, is the first airline to operate the domestic flights in Cambodia. The pilots of this airline are all from Vietnam Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air is considered have the best safety standards and that’s why it is favored by government and embassy personnel. However; to tourists, it has a mix reputation due the many problems.

The biggest problem is that Cambodia Angkor Air has very few plans, fewer than 10, and then if there are any problems, the flight seems to be delayed or cancelled. And the other popular problem is purchasing tickets on the website.

Cambodia Angkor Air offer daily flights between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, and between Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. They have totally over 20 flights operated every  day.

They suggest arriving an hour before boarding.

The ticket price of Cambodia Angkor Air is getting lower because it no longer dominated

the domestic market as before.

2. Bassaka Air

 Bassaka Air, owned by the Chinese government and the Naga casino company, is a low-cost airline in Cambodia.

This airline has only two plans and their number of flight routes is quite limited. The main domestic route of Bassaka Air is between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. On most days, they provide only one flight from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap or versus.

Despite the bad reputation on the customer service, their flights worth your money with their pretty cheap ticket, only from $19 to $50.

3. Cambodia Bayon Airlines

This is another Chinese entrant into Cambodian domestic airspace, it is a newbie of the domestic market and a low-cost airline, just like Bassaka Air.

Cambodia Bayon Airlines offers one flight from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh and another one from Phnom Penh to Siem Ream daily. Beside Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, Sihanoukville is another destination in the routes of Cambodia Bayon Airlines.

Cambodia Bayon Airlines suggests checking-in at least 30 minutes before boarding.

The ticket price of this airline is also cheap, starting from $32 for an economy class seat.

Besides these 3 popular domestic airlines in Cambodia, we have the others like JC International Airlines, Lanmei Airlines, Small Planet Airlines (Cambodia), Sky Angkor Airlines, etc.

International airlines

Cambodia Angkor Air is the national airline that operates most of the international flights from and to Cambodia. They offer flights between Cambodia and some destinations around the region like Bangkok, Danang, Guangzhou, Ho Chi Minh City, Seoul and Shanghai. Other airlines from Thailand and Vietnam like Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways and Vietnam Airline provide most of the daily international routes to Cambodia via Bangkok. Besides that, Air Asia, Jestar and Cebu Pacific are popular budget airlines when coming to the international flights from Cambodia.

There are international airports in Cambodia: Phnom Penh International Airport, Siem Reap International Airport, and Sihanoukville International Airport. While Phnom Penh International Airport and Siem Reap International Airport offer the good range of services (ATMs, shops, restaurants, bars) with a wide range of international flight routes, Sihanoukviller International Airport operates very limited international routes between Cambodia and a handful of neighboring countries and their services are limited also.

1. From Cambodia to Asia

In general, Cambodia is well connected with countries in Asia, especially Southeast Asia countries. There are always several daily direct flights from Cambodia to popular destinations in Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, etc.

• Phnom Penh – Ho Chi Minh City

There are around 5 daily flights from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City, operated by Cambodia Angkor Air, Vietnam Airlines, Qatar Airways and VietJet Air.

(*) Ticket booked one week in advance for economy class.

• Siem Reap – Ho Chi Minh City

There are almost 10 daily flights from Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City, operated by Cambodia Angkor Air, Lanmei Airlines and Vietnam Airlines. There are not many flights on weekends so you are recommended to book the ticket on the other days.

(*) Ticket booked one week in advance for economy class.

• Phnom Penh – Bangkok

This is a popular international routes from Cambodia and there many daily flights, more than 12, operated by Bangkok Airways, FlexFlight, Thai AirAsia, Thai Airways, Thai Smile, and Lanmei Airlines.

(*) Ticket booked one week in advance for economy class.

• Siem Reap – Bangkok

The number of flights from Siem Reap to Bangkok is a little fewer than from Phnom Penh to Bangkok. There are around 10 daily flights for this international route, operated by Thai Smile, Bangkok Airways, and Thai AirAsia.

(*) Ticket booked one week in advance for economy class.

• Phnom Penh – Singapore

There are about 5 daily direct flights from Phnom Penh to Singapore, operated by Singapore Airlines and Jestar. In additionally, Vietnam Airlines offers 2 daily                       transit flights for this route via Ho Chi Minh City.

(*) Ticket booked one week in advance for economy class.

2. From Cambodia to Europe

Actually, there are not many choices to fly from Cambodia to European countries, especially that there is hardly direct flights. People tend to fly to Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok then take flights to Europe.

• Phnom Penh – Berlin

There is no direct flight from Phnom Penh to Berlin, there are at least two stops. The time for travelling is long, at least 16 hours 30 minutes and the price is high also.

Aeroflot is a popular airline operating this flight routes, the whole route lasts longer than 20 hours and the ticket is from $838. Their stops are Bangkok and Moscow.

• Phnom Penh – Frankfurt

The flight routes from Phnom Penh to Frankfurt last longer than 14 hours, and the cheapest prices is around $515.

Aeroflot is also an outstanding airline operating the whole routes with more than 19 hours travel time and the ticket price from $916. Their stops are also Bangkok and Moscow.

• Phnom Penh – Paris

Unlike the flight routes from Phnom Penh to Berlin and Frankfurt, there are routes with only one stop from Phnom Penh to Paris, operated by China Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Thai Airways, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, China Eastern, etc. The average price is lower than $1000 and the average travel time is 15 hours.

3. From Cambodia to North America

Like Europe, there is no direct flight from Cambodia to North America’s destinations. All of them have as least 1 stop, and most are stops in Korea or Chinese because they are operated by airlines from these 2 countries.

The outstanding airlines operating flight routes from Phnom Penh to New York are China Airlines, Emirates, Asiana Airlines, Etihad Airways, Eva Air, etc.

And the highly recommended airlines offering flight routes from Phnom Penh to Vancouver are Xiamen Airlines, China Southern, China Eastern, etc.

4. From Cambodia to Oceania

The flight routes from Cambodia to destinations in Oceania are limited too. There is still no direct flight for this route up to now. If you want to fly from Phnom Penh to Sydney or Auckland, you have to stop at Kuala Lumpur, Singapore or Bangkok.

AirAisa is one good budget airline for you to fly from Phnom Penh to Sydney, it costs only less than $300 for an economy ticket.