- IndiGo begins thrice-weekly nonstop Kolkata–Siem Reap on 13 Nov 2025, the first direct India–Cambodia link by an Indian carrier, removing third-country transits.
- Cambodia received 77,632 visitors from India in 2024 (up from 68,836 in 2023); the return is timed to coincide with Kolkata’s morning connection window for same-day domestic links.
- Phnom Penh–Delhi continues on the Cambodian flag carrier for capital/business traffic, while IndiGo’s Kolkata–Siem Reap targets tourism; e-Visa/VoA and SAI’s modern terminal ease arrivals.
IndiGo will commence non-stop flights between Kolkata and Siem Reap on 13 November 2025, expanding its Southeast Asia network to include Cambodia with a thrice-weekly service.
The move provides Indian travellers with a direct entry point to the Angkor region, eliminating the need to transit through a third-country hub.
India is a small but rising source market for Cambodia and has largely relied on one-stop routings via Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore.
India-origin demand already exists and is rebuilding. Cambodia recorded 77,632 visitors from India in 2024, up from 68,836 in 2023, according to the Ministry of Tourism’s year-end table. In Q1 2025, Cambodia recorded 24,425 Indian visitors, indicating a stable base that a nonstop service can address.
Network & competition
IndiGo’s choice of Kolkata aligns with its Eastern-gateway strategy. The short sector (about three hours, time-zone adjusted) can operate overnight and return into Kolkata’s morning connection window, enabling same-day links to metros and key cities across eastern and northeastern India. The airline says the schedule is built to channel traffic “from the rest of India to Cambodia via Kolkata,” while widening the city’s international options.
Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo, said,
“In line with our commitment to connecting India to key global destinations, we are delighted to be the first Indian carrier to offer direct flights to Cambodia. This service not only enhances international connectivity from Kolkata but also provides a convenient connection from the rest of India to Cambodia via Kolkata, leveraging IndiGo’s extensive domestic network. With Kolkata’s strategic location and Siem Reap as our 7th international destination from the city, the route is a natural fit for our expanding network. With rising travel demand between the two countries, fuelled by convenient Visa rules and growing trade, we are confident that these flights will not only boost tourism but also open new avenues for cultural exchange and economic cooperation.”
Nonstop India–Cambodia capacity already exists via the Cambodian flag carrier on the Phnom Penh–Delhi sector, which now operates from the capital’s new Techo International Airport (KTI) since September 9, 2025. IndiGo’s Kolkata–Siem Reap link targets a different flow—tourism into the Angkor gateway—while PNH–DEL serves capital/business traffic, making the two services complementary rather than overlapping.
Traveller essentials
Cambodia accepts applications through its official e-Visa portal, and a Tourist Visa-on-Arrival is available at designated ports (including Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport).
Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport (SAI) opened on 16 October 2023 with a new terminal designed for roughly 7 million passengers/year in phase one.
Facilities include jet bridges, expanded check-in and immigration halls, duty-free and F&B, and on-airport ground transport (airport buses and taxis).
The airport is about 55–57 km from central Siem Reap, with typical transfers of 60–90 minutes, depending on traffic.
With Cambodia already witnessing a surge in Indian visitors, and visa-on-arrival or quick e-Visa options making travel convenient, IndiGo’s direct connectivity is poised to further boost tourism from India. For those travelling from Southeast Asia to India, this new service will enable seamless onward connections across IndiGo’s extensive domestic network of 90+ cities.
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