Siem Reap-Shenzhen direct flight launched
Synopsis: The new route opens seamless entry into Cambodia’s twin gateways – Phnom Penh and Siem Reap – offering more flexibility for inbound and outbound tourism.
A new chapter in Cambodia-China tourism cooperation was marked on Friday with the official launch of the first-ever direct flight route between Siem Reap Angkor International Airport and Shenzhen, China, one of the country’s four major first-tier cities.
At around 7:50 am on July 18, Air Cambodia flight K6929 touched down in Siem Reap from Shenzhen, carrying a full load of passengers. The landmark arrival was welcomed with a ceremonial water salute at the airport.
The new air route connects Siem Reap—home to the iconic UNESCO-listed Angkor Wat—with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, providing easier access for Chinese travellers and injecting fresh momentum into the ‘China–Cambodia Tourism Year 2025’.
Previously, Chinese tourists had to transit through Phnom Penh due to the absence of direct connections to Siem Reap. The new flight is expected to ease travel time and open up more opportunities for multi-destination itineraries in Cambodia, helping to revive Siem Reap’s tourism sector.
Senior Cambodian and Chinese officials joined the launch ceremonies held simultaneously in Shenzhen and Siem Reap. Among the dignitaries were Chea Aun, Permanent Secretary of State at the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation; Ngouv Sengkak, Deputy Governor of Siem Reap; Soeung Rathchavy, Cambodian Ambassador to China; Zhang Zhaoxin, Consul of the Chinese Embassy in Siem Reap; Hang Sandap, Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Tourism; and representatives from the Shenzhen Municipal Transport Bureau and Culture and Tourism departments.
Operated by Air Cambodia using Airbus A320/A321 aircraft, the service will run once a week. The flight departs Siem Reap every Thursday at 21:30 and returns from Shenzhen on Friday morning at 06:20. Both business and economy class seats are available, with a travel time of approximately two and a half hours.
“This route not only serves travellers from Shenzhen but opens the door for seamless entry into Cambodia’s twin gateways—Phnom Penh and Siem Reap—offering more flexibility for inbound and outbound tourism,” the airline said in a statement.
Tour operators have responded swiftly. Guangzhou GZL International Travel Service has already sent the first tour group of 50 passengers under its “Guangzhou-Shenzhen Link, Khmer Twin Cities 1,000-Person Greater Bay Area Tour to Cambodia” initiative.
Zhan David, Vice Chairman and CEO of Air Cambodia, said the launch was especially meaningful as it coincided with the 67th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Cambodia and China.
“This direct flight made possible through our partnership with Shenzhen Airport Group and Yunnan Air Investment (Cambodia) Airport Management closes a significant market gap,” he said. “It not only facilitates greater inbound tourism from the Greater Bay Area but also provides an exit gateway for European and American tourists wishing to explore China.”
He added that the route stands as a tangible contribution to the vision set forth by both countries’ leaders during the official designation of 2025 as the “China–Cambodia Tourism Year.”
In addition to the Greater Bay Area travel programs, Air Cambodia is collaborating with tour agencies in Zhengzhou, Nanning, and Hong Kong to launch multi-destination packages under the theme “Shenzhen Link, Khmer Twin Cities; Enter via Phnom Penh, Exit via Siem Reap.”
Cambodia welcomed more than 3.42 million international air passengers in the first six months of 2025, marking a 16 percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to a recent report released by the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA).
The report highlighted that the majority of inbound travellers during the January–June period came from China, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, and Japan—key markets that continue to drive Cambodia’s aviation recovery and tourism growth.
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