(Siem Reap): IndiGo Airlines (6E) officially inaugurated its first direct flight connecting Kolkata (CCU), India, with Siem Reap–Angkor (SAI), Cambodia, on Thursday morning, November 13, 2025. The inaugural ceremony was presided over by Chea Oun, Secretary of State and Permanent Secretary of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA), representing Mao Havannall, Minister in charge of the SSCA. The event gathered nearly 100 participants, including representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, the Indian Embassy led by Ambassador Vanlalvawna Bawitlung, officials from the CAIC Airport Investment Company, travel agencies, and relevant ministries and institutions.
Route and Operational Details
IndiGo Airlines will operate three direct flights weekly between Kolkata and Siem Reap — every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday — using Airbus A320neo aircraft.
The inaugural flight carried 127 Indian tourists to Cambodia and 67 passengers returning to India.
Cambodia’s national carrier, Air Cambodia (K6), already operates two weekly flights between Phnom Penh (PNH) and New Delhi (DEL) on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
IndiGo, India’s leading airline, had earlier planned to start services from New Delhi and Mumbai to Siem Reap, but the plans were postponed due to global economic factors and fluctuating aviation demand. The new route now offers a reliable, convenient link for Indian travelers visiting Cambodia.
Strategic Importance and Bilateral Significance
This direct route represents a major milestone in the strengthening of India–Cambodia diplomatic relations, and reflects the close cooperation between the Royal Government of Cambodia and the Republic of India. According to SSCA Secretary of State and spokesperson Sin Chansereyvutha, this flight marks another achievement under the leadership and strategic direction of Prime Minister Hun Manet, made possible through the efforts of Cambodian ministries, institutions, and international partners.
The spokesperson added that the flight aligns with Cambodia’s growing aviation network and supports the government’s policy to expand international air connections worldwide under Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet’s guidance.
Boost to Tourism and Cultural Exchange
This route makes travel between India and Cambodia easier than ever before. With Siem Reap serving as the gateway to Angkor Wat, the connection is expected to attract a significant rise in Indian tourist arrivals.
Indian travelers can now experience shorter flight durations, simple visa procedures, and convenient onward connections from Kolkata to other parts of India.
The new service also enhances people-to-people ties, fostering greater cultural understanding, academic exchange, and tourism-led collaboration between both nations.
Economic and Trade Implications
Improved air connectivity naturally strengthens trade and investment between the two countries. The direct Kolkata–Siem Reap link will support bilateral economic cooperation, especially in tourism, hospitality, and business services.
For Cambodia, this connectivity will bring increased visitor spending and contribute to the development of Siem Reap province as a global tourism and investment destination.
Under regional cooperation frameworks such as the ASEAN–India Air Transport Framework and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), this flight enhances regional connectivity and helps boost travel and trade across South and Southeast Asia.
Why Kolkata and Siem Reap?
Kolkata’s strategic location in eastern India makes it an ideal hub for connecting travelers from across the country to Southeast Asia.
Siem Reap, as Cambodia’s seventh international tourism gateway, is the nation’s most popular destination — home to the world heritage site of Angkor Wat and a growing tourism infrastructure.
This route effectively bridges one of India’s oldest cultural cities with one of Cambodia’s most iconic cultural capitals, emphasizing the historic spiritual and cultural ties that date back centuries.
Future Prospects
With IndiGo’s new service taking flight, both governments anticipate growth in air traffic and bilateral tourism. As passenger demand increases, additional frequencies or new routes from Delhi and Mumbai to Siem Reap are expected to follow.
Collaborative tourism promotion campaigns between India’s Ministry of Tourism and Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism are also being planned to encourage higher visitor volumes.
Also read, Cambodian PM Highlights ASEAN–India Trade Growth, Pushes for Digital Integration
