Cambodia’s tourism minister urges Malaysia Airlines to expand direct flight

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (Oct.02, 2025) — Cambodia’s Minister of Tourism Huot Hak has called on Malaysia Airlines and its sister carrier Firefly to increase direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Phnom Penh and launch new routes to Siem Reap and Preah Sihanouk province.

The request was made during the ASEAN Tourism Ministers’ Retreat in Melaka City, where Hak led a high-level delegation for talks with Malaysia Airlines representative Dersenish Aresandiran.

Malaysia Airlines currently operates four daily flights between Phnom Penh and Kuala Lumpur. The airline, part of the Malaysia Aviation Group and a member of the Oneworld Alliance, serves over 900 destinations worldwide.

Hak praised Malaysia Airlines for its role in boosting arrivals and strengthening bilateral ties, citing 68 years of diplomatic relations and growing tourism cooperation. He emphasized Cambodia’s readiness to accommodate increased traffic through its upgraded airports, including the 4F-category Techo International Airport.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, from January to August 2025, Cambodia welcomed nearly 70,000 Malaysian tourists, representing a 10% increase over the same period in 2024. Joint promotional efforts between the Ministry of Tourism and Malaysia Airlines are expected to further elevate Cambodia’s appeal to Malaysian and international travelers.

During the same period, Cambodia received more than 4 million international visitors, while domestic tourists reached 17.28 million—an increase of nearly 53% compared to the same timeframe in 2024.