AirAsia now flies direct to Sihanoukville

2 min readUpdated May 15, 2025Aug 11, 201711:39 PM

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Malaysia-based low cost carrier AirAsia officially launched its first direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Sihanoukville International Airport yesterday to cater to the increasing number of tourists keen to visit Cambodia’s coastal areas and enjoy its beaches.

The inaugural AirAsia flight, with 180 passengers onboard, landed at 1:00 PM and returned back to Kuala Lumpur 40 minutes later, according to a Cambodia Airports press release.

AirAsia’s four times weekly flights from Kuala Lumpur to Sihanoukville is its third route into Cambodia, with the airline flying daily to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

Spencer Lee, commercial head at AirAsia, said that with the expansion of the airline’s services to Cambodia, AirAsia has become one of the key players in the kingdom’s tourism sector.

“We are thrilled that our first flight to Sihanoukville marked a milestone with a successful full flight for our 50th unique route. As a truly Asean airline, it is our commitment to drive tourism efforts to all countries that we operate in – especially within the region,” said Mr Lee.

“This coastal city in Cambodia presents great potential and dynamic opportunities in terms of tourism, trade and economy. We are happy to be a part of this journey to develop Sihanoukville further,” he added.

“Our footprint in Cambodia to date would not be possible without the help from local parties and we would like to thank the Cambodian airport authorities for their tremendous support.

“With Sihanoukville added into our extensive network map of over 120 destinations, we hope to enable this city to be a popular tourist destination that enables travellers from the region to experience a hidden side of Asean that has yet to be discovered.”

““We are thrilled that our first flight to Sihanoukville marked a milestone with a successful full flight for our 50th unique route.”

Mr Lee said AirAsia aims to develop Sihanoukville to become a tourist hotspot like how it has introduced unique destinations such as Luang Prabang in Laos, Indonesia’s Banda Aceh and Bhubaneswar in India.

“Travellers looking to bask in the sun and enjoy the waters can look to the unspoiled tropical island of Koh Rong Samloem for beautiful sandy beaches, jungle mountains, mangrove and marine life. While the most popular beach in Sihanoukville, Ochheuteal Beach, boasts a late night scene with restaurants and bars.”

Eric Delobel, CEO of Cambodia Airports, said that AirAsia’s direct flights to Sihanoukville would better facilitate Cambodia’s connectivity to all parts of the world.

“Our successful partnership with AirAsia is moving up another step and it is a key driver in connecting Cambodia to the world,” he added.

Mr Delobel said Cambodia Airports was keen to attract more airlines to Sihanoukville and for that reason it would inaugurate in early 2018 a new airport terminal and at the same time renovate the airport runway to cater to bigger aircraft.

Taing Sochet Krisna, director of Sihanoukville provincial tourism department, said that AirAsia will help to promote the image of the country’s coastal area and attract more tourists, investment and trade.

“Now tourists will be able to fly directly to my province,” he said.

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What this means

AirAsia's strategic expansion into Sihanoukville is a shrewd move, capitalising on Cambodia's burgeoning coastal tourism and a clear gap in direct air links. This initiative pressures rivals by solidifying AirAsia's dominant position as a 'key player' in Cambodian tourism, building on its existing Phnom Penh and Siem Reap routes. The airline's track record of developing 'unique destinations' like Luang Prabang suggests this could be highly successful for local businesses. The primary risk lies in whether Sihanoukville's infrastructure and attractions can rapidly scale to meet increased tourist demand. This move contrasts with more diversified strategies seen from other regional players, focusing instead on deep market penetration. We anticipate observing the load factor on this route, especially following the new airport terminal's inauguration in early 2018.

Minjun Park · Retail News Asia newsroom

Questions & Answers

How many passengers were on AirAsia's first direct flight to Sihanoukville?

The inaugural AirAsia flight carried 180 passengers onboard. It landed yesterday at 1:00 PM in Sihanoukville International Airport after departing from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

How many times a week will AirAsia fly this new route to Sihanoukville?

AirAsia will operate the new direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Sihanoukville four times weekly. This new route is AirAsia's third service into Cambodia.

What are AirAsia's existing routes into Cambodia?

Prior to the Sihanoukville service, AirAsia already flew daily to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. The new Sihanoukville route is AirAsia's third destination within Cambodia.

When will Sihanoukville International Airport open its new terminal?

Sihanoukville International Airport will inaugurate a new airport terminal in early 2018. The runway will also be renovated at the same time to accommodate larger aircraft.

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