On October 23, during an interview, a spokesperson for Cambodia National Airlines announced that starting November 13, the airline will add an evening flight from Phnom Penh to Guangzhou, operating daily. They also revealed plans to optimize flight schedules for routes to Zhengzhou, Nanning, and Hong Kong in anticipation of the peak travel season for Chinese tourists heading to Cambodia. This move is part of an effort to accelerate the establishment of the Air Silk Road connecting Henan, Cambodia, and ASEAN.

With the changes, the daily flights from Phnom Penh to Guangzhou will increase from one to two. From October 27, 2023, to March 30, 2025, the airline will implement a new seasonal schedule, raising the number of weekly flights between Cambodia and China from 15 to 22.

Cheng Ruolan, the Deputy General Manager of the Phnom Penh branch of Cambodia National Airlines, stated that in 2025, Cambodia plans to host a series of exciting events to welcome Chinese tourists. As the flag carrier, the airline is planning to open or resume nearly ten routes to China in the near future. This initiative underscores the airline’s role as a driving force in the economic and tourism development of Cambodia, aiming to cater to the diverse needs of business travelers and expatriates in the country.

Additionally, another representative from Cambodia Airlines mentioned that a new direct flight route between Phnom Penh and Guangzhou will commence on October 29, with flights scheduled for Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from Phnom Penh to Guangzhou, and Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays for the return leg. This new route will provide a fresh air link between the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area and Cambodia.

Zhou Yingping, the General Manager of China Southern Airlines’ Phnom Penh office, highlighted that cooperation between China and Cambodia is set to achieve even greater results in 2024. The airline’s Guangzhou-Phnom Penh route currently operates three flights daily, solidifying its status as the primary air carrier between the two nations. Looking ahead to 2025, Southern Airlines plans to cooperate actively with the new Phnom Penh International Airport and may intensify flight frequencies based on passenger growth, thereby facilitating easier exchanges in trade and culture between the two countries.