Emirates Bets on Cambodia as Chinese Travelers Stay Away

Often overshadowed by its big-name neighbors, Cambodia is rapidly developing its long-haul connections. On Monday, two of the world’s biggest carriers announced new routes to the country. 

Turkish Airlines will launch flights from its Istanbul hub to Phnom Penh. The three-times weekly service starts on December 10 and will operate via Bangkok. It joins Abu Dhabi’s Etihad in adding the Cambodian capital to its route map this year.

The second of Monday’s announcements was arguably the more notable. Emirates – by most metrics the world’s largest international airline – will start flying to Siem Reap. The Cambodian city is best known for its easy access to the ancient temples of Angkor, but it is also gaining a reputation for health and wellness travel.

Like Turkish, Emirates is routing its new Cambodian flights via Bangkok. Starting June 3, the airline will fly three times a week from Dubai using Boeing 777 widebody aircraft.&