(Phnom Penh): Cambodia recorded 2.87 million air passengers during the first five months of 2026, a 6 percent decline compared with the same period last year, according to the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA).

Despite the drop in passenger traffic, air cargo throughput surged 34 percent year-on-year to 38,951 tonnes, highlighting a strong rebound in freight activity.

Sin Chansereyvutha, Secretary of State and spokesperson for the civil aviation sector, said the sharp rise in cargo volumes alongside declining passenger numbers marks a notable trend in Cambodia’s aviation industry this year.

“In previous years, cargo volumes generally declined when passenger traffic fell. The current increase reflects growing economic activity, particularly in manufacturing supply chains,” he said.

According to the SSCA, Techo International Airport (KTI) handles 97.9 percent of Cambodia’s international air cargo traffic.

As of June 2026, Cambodia’s international aviation network connected 18 countries and 46 cities, with 36 airlines operating 1,024 weekly flights through the country’s three international airports.

Cambodia welcomed nearly 7 million inbound and outbound air passengers in 2025, a 12 percent increase from 2024, underscoring the sector’s longer-term growth despite the slowdown in passenger traffic this year.
=FRESH NEWS