PHNOM PENH – Cambodia has urged one of the world’s leading airlines, Emirates, to explore direct flights to the Kingdom after the opening of the country’s new international airport.

Techo International Airport, the country’s largest, is expected to transform Cambodia into a major regional hub, boosting tourism, trade and foreign investment.

Tourism Minister Huot Hak met Helen Breen, director of sales at Emirates, in London to discuss opportunities for collaboration in enhancing air connectivity and promoting Cambodia’s tourism.

He noted that several major airlines, including Turkish Airlines and Etihad Airways, have started direct flights to Cambodia.

During the meeting, he invited Breen and her colleagues to visit Cambodia to see the growing influx of tourists and the country’s rich tourism potential.

The United Arab Emirates-owned airline currently operates a one-stop flight to Phnom Penh via Singapore. Since June 3, Emirates has also introduced a thrice-weekly service from Dubai to Siem Reap via Bangkok.

Techo International Airport can accommodate some of the world’s largest aircraft, such as the Airbus A380-800 and Boeing 747-800. At present, 29 airlines operate from the airport, including 25 international carriers.

To further promote the inflow of international tourists, Huot Hak led a delegation from the Ministry of Tourism and the Cambodia Tourism Board to the three-day World Travel Market 2025 held from Nov. 4 in the United Kingdom.

The event is one of Europe’s most significant annual international tourism exhibitions.

In London, he also met UK tour operators, journalists from BBC Global News Limited and representatives from leading tourism and travel companies, including the travel technology service provider Simplenight and TUI Group, a global travel guide company.

The minister is set to attend the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly, to be held from Nov. 7 to 11 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event is expected to bring together tourism ministers from more than 160 countries to exchange views on global tourism development.