Etihad Airways said in an announcement that the codeshare partnership with Air Cambodia, which took effect on April 28, 2026, allows travelers from Abu Dhabi and points throughout its network to book Siem Reap under one reservation via Phnom Penh. Checked baggage transfers seamlessly to the final destination under the single itinerary, eliminating the need for separate tickets or rechecking bags on the domestic Cambodia sector. Air Cambodia customers gain the ability to connect onto Etihad Airways services between Phnom Penh and Abu Dhabi as part of the same agreement. The arrangement keeps Abu Dhabi as the central long-haul transfer hub for traffic moving in both directions.
The partnership builds directly on Etihad Airways’ launch of nonstop flights between Abu Dhabi and Phnom Penh on October 3, 2025. That service was introduced alongside new flights to Medan and formed part of a Southeast Asia expansion phase that increased the carrier’s total network to 83 destinations, according to the airline. Air Cambodia now operates the short-haul leg from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, enabling Etihad Airways to market the destination without deploying its own aircraft on the route.
Arik De, chief revenue and commercial officer at Etihad Airways, described Cambodia as an important and growing market within the carrier’s network. Etihad Airways stated, “We’re opening the door to one of Southeast Asia’s most iconic destinations We’ve launched a codeshare with Air Cambodia, making it easier for our guests to reach Siem Reap and Angkor Wat with a single booking and seamless onward travel, expanding our Southeast Asia network.” The pact extends the airline’s reach into leisure-driven demand for Siem Reap while highlighting additional attractions such as night markets, Khmer cuisine and cultural sites.
The codeshare aligns with continued expansion across the Southeast Asia aviation market. IATA forecasts show passenger numbers in the Asia-Pacific region set to grow by 7.9 percent in 2025, the highest rate recorded globally. Alton Aviation Consultancy reported that international traffic across Asia-Pacific increased by 8.0 percent in 2025, outpacing the worldwide average of 6.8 percent, as carriers added more than 600 new routes since 2015 to improve connectivity.
Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism recorded approximately 5.57 million international visitor arrivals across 2025. Siem Reap Province drew nearly 2.9 million tourists during the first half of that year, with Angkor Wat remaining the centerpiece attraction that historically receives up to 2.6 million visitors annually. The partnership positions Etihad Airways to capture a portion of this heritage and leisure traffic flowing through Abu Dhabi.
The agreement supplies additional network depth for Etihad Airways without requiring dedicated aircraft on the Siem Reap sector. It establishes a local operating partner in a market where regional feed, tourism flows and intercontinental connections intersect. The carrier has continued to add capacity across Southeast Asia through 2025 and 2026, with Cambodia emerging as one of its more recent markets from its Abu Dhabi base.
