Embassy of India
Phnom Penh
Press Release
Launch of Direct Flights between India and Cambodia
On June 16, 2024, the Embassy of India in collaboration with the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia, and Cambodia Angkor Air launched the first ever direct flight between India and Cambodia.
- The event was presided over by H.E. Neth Savoeun, Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia and was attended by H.E. Devyani Khobragade, Ambassador of India; H.E. Mao Havannall, Minister In charge of State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, H.E. Sok Soken, Minister of Tourism; and top management of Cambodia Angkor Air.
- H.E. Neth Savoeun, Deputy Prime Minister, and H.E. Mao Havannall, Minister In charge of State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, both applauded the launch of direct flights between Phnom Penh to New Delhi as well as 1st India-Cambodia Year of Tourism in 2024-25. H.E. Mao Havannall in his welcome address mentioned that flights will first operate four times a week to begin with. From October 2024 onwards, daily flights from Phnom Penh to New Delhi are likely to start.
- H.E. Neth Savoeun, Deputy Prime Minister in his address mentioned that direct flights will contribute towards enhanced tourism, trade, and commerce between India and Cambodia. They thanked India for extending all assistance for the start of the direct flight linkages.
- The launch was attended by a number of Cambodian officials from various ministries, business persons, and members of Indian community in Cambodia.
- Indian community members while celebrating the launch of direct flight conveyed their appreciation for the efforts in realizing this milestone. With this launch, a long standing demand of the Indian community facilitating ease of travel back home to India has been fulfilled, and is a reflection of our ‘People Centric’ approach to diplomacy.
- India and Cambodia share excellent bilateral relations rooted in our ancient civilizational connect. Enhanced physical, digital, and financial connectivity between India and Cambodia is a priority area for the Government of India and the Embassy of India in Cambodia. Direct air connectivity between India and Cambodia is a manifestation of our successful Act East Policy, which marks its 10thanniversary this year.
- Direct flights will not only contribute towards enhanced people to people connections but also commercial linkages between India and Cambodia by facilitating tourism, trade, and investments. It will facilitate Indian tourists enjoying our shared ancient cultural heritage, as showcased in the magnificent temples in Cambodia, including the world-famous Angkor Wat. It will also facilitate religious tourism, and travel of elderly Cambodian tourists visiting India for Buddhist and medical tourism.
- An Air Service Agreement between India and Cambodia is in place since 2002. The civil aviation authorities of the two sides signed a MoU in September 2016 and agreed to grant 3rd, 4th and 5th freedom traffic rights to airlines of the respective sides. The Embassy facilitated multiple rounds of discussion between CAA and Director General of Carnival Aviation from the Indian side. H.E. Mao Havanall, Minister-in Charge of State Secretariat of Civil Aviation of Cambodia visited India for Wings India 2024 in January 2024 in Hyderabad and met with Minister of Civil Aviation of India on the sidelines of the event. Subsequently, on 15 February 2024, DGCA granted the CAA authorization to operate direct flights to and from Delhi.
- Further, Payment Connectivity with Unified Payment Interface (UPI) Payments in Cambodia is scheduled to be launched in the next few months. Subsequently, Indian tourist, will be able to pay in rupees through their UPI apps in Cambodia. The KHQR based payment will also be launched in India. On 17th March, 2023, a Memorandum of Understating (MOU) was signed between National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) and the NPCI International Payment Limited (NIPL) for collaboration on enabling cross border payment and remittance between India and Cambodia through the UPI. The direct flights coupled with payment connectivity are expected to boost tourism, commerce and investments between India and Cambodia.
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