Turkish Airlines has added Cambodia to its network, launching flights to Phnom Penh and bringing the total number of countries it serves to 132 — a Guinness World Record. The airline, which set the record in December 2024 for the most countries flown to by an airline, is currently the only European carrier to serve the Cambodian capital.
Flights operate three times a week, departing Istanbul on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The addition of Phnom Penh was initially confirmed earlier in 2025.
Cambodia becomes the seventh country served by Turkish Airlines in Southeast Asia, while Phnom Penh is the 11th city in the region. The route expands the airline’s Far East network to 20 cities and 21 airports.
“We continue to expand our network connecting continents and strengthen our connections with strategic destinations,” said Bilal Ekşi, CEO of Turkish Airlines. “The launch of Phnom Penh flights marks a significant step forward in this goal.” Ekşi added that the flights to Cambodia will present opportunities for both tourism and business travellers, and that being the only European carrier serving the destination will solidify the airline’s leadership in the region.
Turkish Airlines reported strong operational results for 2025. Between January and November, total passenger numbers rose 8.4% year-on-year to 85.3 million. International-to-international passengers increased 12.8% to 32.5 million. Total load factor stood at 83.2%, while available seat kilometres (ASK) grew 7.4% to 249.9 billion. By the end of November 2025, the fleet comprised 513 aircraft.
Istanbul remains the airline’s primary hub, with over 98% of flights departing or arriving there. The carrier’s geographical position at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa is central to its growth strategy, enabling efficient connections across three continents and the Americas.
In a separate development, Turkish Airlines announced an interline agreement with Southwest Airlines on 17 December 2025, scheduled to begin in early 2026. The deal will allow travellers to purchase connecting Southwest and Turkish flights on a single ticket, using 10 US cities served by Southwest as gateways.
Why it matters
The addition of Cambodia extends Turkish Airlines’ already record-breaking country count, reinforcing its competitive advantage in long-haul connectivity. For the travel trade, the new Phnom Penh route opens a direct link from Europe to an emerging Southeast Asian market, potentially boosting inbound tourism and business travel. The airline’s continued network expansion, combined with its strong passenger growth and fleet modernisation plans, signals sustained investment in its hub strategy at Istanbul. The Southwest interline agreement further deepens the carrier’s US market access, offering travel sellers more seamless booking options across the Atlantic.
