Starting January 22, Cambodia Angkor Air plans to launch the Nanjing–Phnom Penh route, operating three flights per week with A320 aircraft. This will be Nanjing’s first direct flight to Phnom Penh.
For many travelers from Nanjing, getting to Phnom Penh previously usually means connecting via Guangzhou or Kunming, with total travel time often stretching to 10 hours or more, much of it spent transfers and waiting.
The operating carrier, Cambodia Angkor Air (CAA), is Cambodia’s flag carrier, and it also undertakes charter flights for the royal family and the prime minister.
In the 2025/2026 winter–spring season, CAA will expand its China-related network to eight routes, including:
Phnom Penh–Zhengzhou, Phnom Penh–Hong Kong, Phnom Penh–Guangzhou, Phnom Penh–Shenzhen, Phnom Penh–Fuzhou, Phnom Penh–Nanning, Sihanoukville–Shenzhen, and Fuzhou–Tokyo.
This is no longer simply “testing” the China market. Instead, China is being positioned as a core source market and an integral part of the airline’s network hub strategy.
Beyond route expansion, Cambodia Angkor Air has also confirmed that it will begin operating China-made C909 aircraft on commercial flights starting in 2026.
Previously, CAA signed a memorandum of understanding with COMAC to purchase 20 C909 aircraft, including 10 firm orders and 10 options.
As flight connectivity continues to increase, Cambodia is also sending clearer signals on tourism policy.
The Cambodian government has announced a pilot visa-free policy for Chinese citizens from June to October 2026. On the day the policy was announced, search volumes for “Cambodia” on OTA platforms rose 20% day-on-day.
