Phnom penh: The new direct flight from Istanbul to Phnom Penh, operated by Turkish Airlines, is expected to increase the number of tourists visiting Cambodia, announced H.E. Huot Hak, the Cambodian Minister of Tourism.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the Minister shared these remarks during the welcome ceremony for the inaugural direct flight connecting Istanbul, Republic of Trkiye, and Phnom Penh, which took place on December 11 at Techo International Airport. This development is seen as a significant accomplishment under the leadership of Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, the Prime Minister of Cambodia, supported by the collective efforts of various stakeholders.

H.E. Huot Hak highlighted the strong collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Trkiye, the Turkish Ambassador, Turkish Airlines, and both national and international tour operators. He stated that this new airline connection, which serves over 350 destinations across 130 countries, will enhance Cambodia's tourism potential and investment prospects on a global scale, thereby attracting more tourists and investors to the nation.

The flight service is scheduled to operate three times a week using a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. With this new route, Turkish Airlines becomes the 36th airline with operations in Cambodia, offering direct connections to 46 cities across 17 countries.

In the first ten months of 2025, Cambodia saw 5.66 million international air passengers, marking a 14 percent increase compared to the previous year, through its three international airports, as reported by SSCA.