After a brief hiatus, Emirates, the largest airline in the Middle East, has re-established flights to Phnom Penh, marking a significant step in the expansion of Cambodia’s tourism sector.

The first daily EK348 flight, connecting Dubai and Singapore to Phnom Penh, landed on May 1 at Phnom Penh International Airport.

The service, operated by a three-class Boeing 777-300ER, was welcomed by Mao Havannall, Minister in Charge of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, and other high-ranking officials.

This resumption not only expands Emirates’ Far East network to 21 destinations, but also increases its operations to four daily flights to Singapore. 

The high-profile landing was attended by several top Emirates executives, including Nabil Sultan, executive vice-president, and Orhan Abbas, senior vice-president of commercial operations, Far East.

Havannall explained that the suspension of the flights was not solely due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but also internal conflicts in Myanmar. The original Phnom Penh-Dubai route connected via Yangon.

“This route, operating under the fifth freedom of the air, will make a significant contribution to Cambodia’s accessibility, departing from the United Arab Emirates via Singapore and landing in the Kingdom of Cambodia,” he noted.

Sultan expressed his enthusiasm about the potential impact on Cambodia’s economy and tourism. 

“Cambodia’s rich cultural heritage and growing economy make it an attractive destination for leisure and business travel. We’re excited for this unique gateway to once again join our already extensive Far East network,” he said.

He noted that through the linked services between Singapore and Phnom Penh, Emirates is also able to support trade and business movement between the two regional hubs and facilitate the convenient shipment of imports and exports between Singapore, Cambodia and the UAE, as well as other markets in the global network. 

The first Emirates flight in years arrived in Phnom Penh on May 1. The flights, which travel between the capital and Dubai via Singapore, are tipped to boost the tourist sector and attract investment. Hong Raksmey

“We believe this opportunity and this service will open up the horizon for a lot of passengers as they now have the additional choice to fly from Phnom Penh to Dubai, where they will be able to connect to 140 destinations,” he said.

“Of course, this service will be via Singapore, which is yet another hub that gives even further opportunities for our passengers, who may perhaps wish to travel to Australia, using the Emirates’ Melbourne service,” he added.

Sultan suggested that this is an opportunity for people from Cambodia to explore the world and experience new destinations.

“No doubt, another major objective is to bring a lot of tourists to Cambodia. Cambodia, of course, is well known for its prominent destinations,” he said.

“And of course, the temples that you have here are almost second to none in terms of historical sites,” he added. 

The service will also open up a horizon of new opportunities for investments and business opportunities from the Middle East and different parts of the world, and hopefully increase investment in the local economy.

“We are pleased that we've been given the opportunity to participate and help improve the economy. Of course, Cambodia has one of the fastest growing economies in the world, with GDP growth of almost six per cent this year,” said Sultan.

Cyril Girot, CEO of Cambodia Airports, highlighted the positive impact on the airport’s international network. 

“The resumption of Emirates flights is a boon for both inbound and outbound travellers, enhancing their journey experience and offering more travel options,” he said.

The daily EK348 flights depart Dubai at 02.30 and arrive in Singapore at 14:05. The flight then departs Singapore at 15:35, arriving in Phnom Penh at 16:35. 

The return flight leaves Phnom Penh at 20:50 and arrives in Singapore at 23:50. The flight then departs Singapore at 01:40 the next day, arriving in Dubai at 04:55. All times are local.

Sultan noted that Emirates is renowned for its service across its aircraft, which feature amenities such as first class showers and a bar in business class located at the rear of the aircraft. 

He also pointed out that their new generation aircraft are equipped with a personal video system which offers over 500 channels in various languages.

“I believe this service opens up a lot of opportunities for businessmen to reach out to different parts of the world, connect their business and come back again,” Sultan told The Post.

“Equally we believe that with our strong brand name and marketing capability we have the power to drive a lot of tourists into Cambodia, which we are committed to doing,” he said.

He added that Cambodia will be prominently featured in all their brochures and communications, as part of an effort to enhance awareness and showcase the country as a premier leisure destination.

Sultan mentioned that travel demand has strongly rebounded, particularly in Asia and Southeast Asia, which were slower to open post-Covid.

He observed that with these regions now open, more capacity is likely to be directed to markets like Cambodia.

He noted the significant growth of the Kingdom’s tourism industry, with a 22 per cent increase in the first quarter of this year, signalling a positive direction for the sector. 

“I think what the government is doing here in terms of opening up different opportunities with partners around the world is the right strategy, it is the right way forward,” he told The Post. 

Sultan pointed out that the challenges facing Emirates are not unique but are part of a broader industry-wide issue. After the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced airlines to ground their operations for up to three years, the process of restoring capacity is complex and slow. 

He noted that it involves extensive maintenance, retraining, and hiring new staff, emphasising that safety is their top priority and everything must meet the highest standards. 

Sultan expressed optimism, saying that Emirates is now nearing full pre-Covid capacity and is poised for additional growth.