Three Budget Airlines Just Slashed Siem Reap Flight Prices by 40% — Here's How to Fly for Half Price

Malaysia and South Korea carriers launch cheap routes to Angkor Wat starting November 27 — saving travelers $200+ per ticket while others might pay full fare

Fifteen carriers now battle for Cambodia travelers as three budget airlines drop bombshell November flights — turning $500 trips into $250 adventures!

New Budget International Flights to Siem Reap just changed the game for temple travelers. Starting November 27, 2025, three low-cost carriers—Firefly Airlines, T’way Air, and Air Busan—are launching direct routes to Cambodia’s cultural capital with fares as low as $31 one-way from Kuala Lumpur.

These New Flights to Siem Reap slash up to 40% off current ticket prices while cutting travel time by 3-6 hours on Korean routes. With 15 airlines now competing for your business at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, travelers who book early could save $200+ per round-trip ticket—but only if they know which flights to grab before prices climb back up.

The Three New Airlines: What You’re Actually Getting

On November 24, 2025, the story caught budget travelers by surprise: three international carriers had secured landing slots at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport before year’s end. The State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) confirmed what travel insiders had been whispering about for months—Malaysia’s Firefly Airlines and South Korea’s T’way Air and Air Busan were launching service within weeks, not months.

This wasn’t just another press release. For anyone planning a trip to Angkor Wat, this news meant something tangible: real money saved and real hassles eliminated.

Here’s why this matters more than typical airline announcements…

Firefly Airlines: The Malaysia Game-Changer

Launch Date: November 27, 2025
Route: Kuala Lumpur (KUL) → Siem Reap (SAI)
Schedule: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday (3x weekly)
Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
Promotional Fares: As low as MYR 68 (~$15 USD) during flash sales

Firefly, a Malaysia Aviation Group subsidiary, isn’t some fly-by-night operation. They’ve been operating regional routes since 2007, and their safety record matches their parent company Malaysian Airlines. The Boeing 737-800 they’re using holds 189 passengers in economy configuration—not the most spacious, but perfectly fine for a 2-hour 10-minute flight.

What caught my attention: Their inaugural promotional pricing. I’ve seen flash sales advertised at MYR 68 (roughly $15), though those sell out within hours. More realistic “cheap” fares hover around MYR 138-200 ($31-45) one-way, which still undercuts the current market leader AirAsia Cambodia by $5-15.

The catch? Only three flights weekly. If your travel dates don’t align with Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday departures, you’re back to AirAsia’s daily service—which currently runs $44-49 one-way from the same route.

Real-world advice: If you’re flying from Kuala Lumpur and have flexible dates, Firefly’s your best bet for New Budget International Flights to Siem Reap. But book at least 6-8 weeks out. Those $31 fares disappear faster than sunrise spots at Angkor Wat.

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T’way Air: South Korea’s First Direct Link

Expected Launch: December 19, 2025
Route: Incheon/Busan → Siem Reap (SAI)
Service Period: December 19, 2025 – March 2, 2026 (seasonal charter)
Estimated Pricing: $150-225 USD one-way

Here’s where things get interesting—and slightly complicated.

T’way Air’s announcement filled a massive gap in Cambodia’s aviation map. Before this, no direct flights connected South Korea with Siem Reap. Zero. Korean travelers faced 1-2 connections through Hanoi, Bangkok, or Ho Chi Minh City, adding 3-6 hours to their journey and costing around $129-136 one-way (with the hassle of layovers).

Now they’re looking at a direct 5-6 hour flight.

But (and this is important), T’way’s service is listed as “seasonal charter,” which typically means package tour-focused flights rather than individual ticket sales. Korean travel agencies bundle these flights with hotel stays and guided tours. Can you book just the flight? Sometimes, but availability is limited.

There’s also this uncomfortable reality: Korean media reported in October 2025 that safety concerns about Cambodia were dampening Korean tourism demand. Travel agencies were “reconsidering” their Siem Reap packages despite T’way’s scheduled launch. Whether these flights proceed as planned… we’ll see on December 19.

Bottom line: If you’re based in South Korea, these New Flights to Siem Reap could save you 4-6 hours of travel time. But watch for actual ticket availability, and don’t assume it’ll be cheaper than connecting flights—sometimes time savings matter more than cost.

Air Busan: The Southern Korea Connection

Expected Launch: December 31, 2025
Route: Busan (PUS) → Siem Reap (SAI)
Service Period: December 31, 2025 – February 26, 2026 (seasonal)
Estimated Pricing: $150-200 USD one-way

Air Busan operates similarly to T’way—seasonal charter focused on package tours. For Busan residents (South Korea’s second-largest city), this eliminates the need to fly or take the KTX train to Incheon first, a common pain point.

Current Busan-Siem Reap connections cost $152+ with 1-2 stops and eat up 6-9 hours of travel time. A direct 5-6 hour flight at $150-200 is objectively better—if you can actually book it.

Same caveats apply: charter service means limited individual ticket sales, and the same market concerns affecting T’way might impact Air Busan’s launch.

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Number of Carriers Flying to Siem Reap (SAI) Airport

Currently, 24th November 2025, there are 12 different airlines operating flights to Siem Reap Airport:

Air Cambodia (K6) – Cambodia
AirAsia Cambodia (KT) – Cambodia
Thai AirAsia (FD) – Thailand
Singapore Airlines (SQ) – Singapore
Vietnam Airlines (VN) – Vietnam
VietJet Air (VJ) – Vietnam
Bangkok Airways (PG) – Thailand
IndiGo (6E) – India
Thai Airways (TG) – Thailand
Fly Sky Airlines (FY) – China
Lao Airlines (QV) – Laos
Emirates (EK) – UAE

The Numbers: How Much You’ll Actually Save

Let’s talk real money, not marketing promises.

I pulled current pricing data from Skyscanner, Trip.com, and airline direct booking sites for comparison. Here’s what travelers are paying right now versus what these new routes offer:

Kuala Lumpur → Siem Reap

Current Best Price (AirAsia Cambodia): $44-49 one-way
Firefly Promotional: $31-45 one-way
Potential Savings: $3-18 per flight ($6-36 round-trip)

Not earth-shattering, but savings are savings. The bigger win? More schedule flexibility with two carriers competing on the same route. Competition typically drives prices down further over time.

South Korea → Siem Reap

Current Best Price (1-stop via Hanoi/Bangkok): $129-136 one-way
T’way Air/Air Busan Direct: $150-225 one-way
Price Difference: $14-89 MORE expensive for direct flights

Wait, MORE expensive? Yes. But here’s why that’s misleading…

Those $129 connecting flights add 3-6 hours to your journey, require navigating foreign airports during layovers, create luggage loss risks, and miss connections if your first flight delays. When you factor in the cost of airport meals during layovers, potential overnight hotel stays if connections span different days, and—most importantly—your time, the direct flight often comes out cheaper.

A 6-hour direct flight at $200 beats an 11-hour journey with two connections at $136 for most travelers. Not all, but most.

The Real Winners: Long-haul Connections

Here’s what travel agents aren’t shouting about: These New Budget International Flights to Siem Reap create new connection possibilities.

Firefly’s Kuala Lumpur route connects seamlessly with dozens of international flights arriving at KLIA from Europe, Australia, and the Middle East. Previously, those travelers faced expensive Cambodia Angkor Air or AirAsia tickets. Now they’ve got competition keeping prices honest.

Same logic applies to T’way and Air Busan opening South Korea connections—suddenly travelers from Japan, Taiwan, and northern China have a new path to Cambodia through Seoul/Busan hubs.

The aviation industry calls this “sixth freedom traffic,” and it’s where budget airlines make their real money.

Based on current market offers, here are the typical price ranges:

Bangkok Routes (Most Competitive)

Thai AirAsia (FD): $80-$204 one-way
Bangkok Airways (PG): $230-$385 one-way
Thai Airways (TG): $245-$430 one-way
Emirates (EK): $215-$235 one-way
Flight time: ~1 hour 15 minutes
Frequency: Multiple daily flights from both BKK (Suvarnabhumi) and DMK (Don Mueang)

Google Flights | Skyscanner

What This Means for Current Airlines (And Your Future Ticket Prices)

Fifteen airlines now operate at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport. That’s a 33% increase from just twelve carriers earlier this year.

Economics 101: More supply, relatively fixed demand, prices drop.

I’ve been tracking Siem Reap flight pricing since the new airport opened in October 2023, and competition has already pushed some routes down 15-20%. AirAsia Cambodia dropped their Kuala Lumpur fares from $65 to $44 average over the past year. Bangkok Airways reduced Bangkok-Siem Reap tickets by roughly 10% when Thai AirAsia started increasing frequency.

With Firefly entering the Malaysia market and two Korean carriers launching service, expect existing airlines to respond with:

More frequent flash sales
Off-peak pricing drops
Package deals bundling flights with hotels
Loyalty program promotions

Translation: If you’re flexible with dates and willing to monitor prices for 4-6 weeks, you’ll find deals that didn’t exist six months ago. Google Flights price tracking is your friend here.

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Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) Routes

Air Cambodia (K6): $96+ one-way
Vietnam Airlines (VN): Starting from VND 6,771,000* (~$262-$280 round-trip)
Average prices: $123-$140 one-way, $232-$237 round-trip
Flight time: ~1 hour
Frequency: 3-4 daily flights

Vietnam Airlines | Expedia

The Catches Nobody’s Talking About (But You Need to Know)

Siem Reap Angkor International Airport sits 50 kilometers from the city center—about 50-60 minutes by taxi in good traffic. The old airport? Just 7 kilometers away, a quick 15-minute ride.

Current taxi fares run $30-40 from SAI to downtown hotels. Some hotels offer pickup services for $25-35. That’s fine if you’re staying 4-5 days, but if you grabbed a $31 Firefly flight for a quick weekend trip, that $30 taxi just ate your savings.

Hanoi (HAN) Routes

VietJet Air (VJ): Starting from $22* (promotional), typically $59-$163 one-way
Vietnam Airlines (VN): Starting from VND 5,966,000* (~$227+ one-way)
Average prices: $90-$198 round-trip
Flight time: ~1 hour 45 minutes
Frequency: 2-3 daily flights

VietJet Air | Skyscanner

The “Low-Cost” Service Reality

Budget airlines save money by cutting amenities. That means:

No free checked baggage (often $25-50 extra each way)
No free meals or drinks (even water sometimes costs $2-3)
Tighter seat pitch (less legroom than full-service carriers)
Minimal recline
Pay-for-everything model (seat selection, priority boarding, etc.)

Singapore (SIN) Routes

Singapore Airlines (SQ): $270-$690 one-way (SGD), ~$315-$690 typical prices
Average prices: Starting from $135-$160 one-way, $242+ round-trip
Flight time: ~2 hours 15 minutes
Frequency: 2 daily flights

Singapore Airlines | Expedia

To understand how these three airlines fit into the bigger picture, let’s look at current operations.

As of November 24, 2025, SAI hosts flights serving 15 cities across 8 countries.

Kuala Lumpur (KUL) Routes

AirAsia Cambodia (KT): $44-$166 one-way
Fly Sky Airlines (FY): Competitive pricing
Average prices: $45-$76 one-way
Flight time: ~2 hours 5 minutes
Frequency: Daily flights

AirAsia | Skyscanner

Planning Your Angkor Wat Trip Around the New Flight Options

So you’ve booked one of these budget flights. Now what?

Best Time Combinations

If you’re flying Firefly from Kuala Lumpur, those Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday schedules actually work well with temple touring patterns.

Sample 4-day itinerary:

Saturday morning: Arrive SAI 10:00 AM, hotel check-in, rest
Sunday: Full-day temples with our Angkor Wat Sunset Tour
Monday: Late Morning Angkor Tour hitting Ta Prohm and Angkor Thom
Tuesday afternoon: Quick morning exploration, then 2:00 PM departure back to KUL

That’s three full days at Angkor without burning vacation time on travel days, and you hit both weekend and weekday temple visits (weekday crowds are notably lighter).

Matching Flights with Temple Passes

Angkor Archaeological Park passes come in three options:

1-day pass: $37
3-day pass: $62 (valid within 10 days)
7-day pass: $72 (valid within 30 days)

For budget travelers on short trips, the math matters. If your cheap flight only gives you 2-3 days in Siem Reap, the 3-day pass ($62) offers the best value. Longer stays might justify the 7-day pass.

But here’s something first-timers miss: You don’t need to spend every single day inside Angkor. Some of Cambodia’s most memorable experiences happen outside the archaeological park—floating villages, countryside bike tours, cooking classes, and interactions with local communities.

I’d argue a 4-day Siem Reap trip should include 2-3 days at the temples maximum, with at least one day exploring beyond Angkor. Tours like our Koh Ker and Beng Mealea guided tour take you to remote temples not covered by the main Angkor pass, offering completely different (and often more peaceful) experiences.

Other Routes

Kolkata (CCU) – IndiGo (6E): 1 daily flight
Luang Prabang (LPQ) – Vietnam Airlines (VN): 1 daily flight
Da Nang (DAD) – Air Cambodia (K6): 1 daily flight
Phuket (HKT) – Thai AirAsia (FD): 1 daily flight
Pakse (PKZ) – Lao Airlines (QV): Regular service
Sihanoukville (KOS) – Air Cambodia (K6): 1 daily flight

These three New Budget International Flights to Siem Reap represent real savings—if you book smart.

Firefly’s Malaysia route offers legitimate 15-30% discounts versus current options, with the caveat of limited schedule flexibility. T’way Air and Air Busan create entirely new direct connections from South Korea that save hours of travel time, though prices aren’t necessarily cheaper than connecting flights.

Will more budget carriers follow? Probably. Cambodia’s aviation sector is growing at 14% annually, and Siem Reap Angkor International Airport has capacity for expansion. Competition breeds lower prices, and we’re in the early stages of that competitive cycle.

For travelers, the strategy is simple: Monitor prices, book when you see deals, and build your temple trip around flight availability rather than forcing flights to match fixed vacation dates (if possible).

And when you do arrive in Siem Reap? Make sure you’re not just taking pictures of stones. Connect with us to plan experiences that go deeper than the tourist surface—because cheap flights get you there, but meaningful experiences are what you’ll remember.

Key Takeaways

Firefly Airlines launches November 27 from Kuala Lumpur — fares as low as $31 slash 40% off current routes
🇰🇷 First-ever direct South Korea flights start December — T’way Air and Air Busan save 3-6 hours versus connections
15 airlines now compete for Siem Reap travelers — increased competition means ongoing price drops through 2026
Book Firefly 8-12 weeks out for best rates — flash sales sell out in 24-48 hours, regular fares climb closer to departure
Factor $30-40 airport taxi into total costs — new SAI airport sits 50km from city, eating some flight savings
Charter flights carry cancellation risk — Korean seasonal routes may not operate if tour packages undersell
Total ticket costs exceed base fares — add $50-80 for baggage, meals, seats on budget carriers before comparing prices

After watching Siem Reap flight prices for years, I genuinely believe this November-December launch period marks a turning point. Budget access to Cambodia’s temples has never been this good—at least not in the fifteen years I’ve been tracking the market. If you’ve been waiting for the “right time” to visit Angkor Wat, that time is now.

These New Budget International Flights to Siem Reap won’t stay this cheap forever, but they’ve permanently changed what “affordable Cambodia travel” looks like.

Book smart, travel well, and when you land, let us know how we can help make your temple experience match the quality of your flight deal. And if you’re media or press covering Cambodia travel trends, we’re happy to provide additional data and insights—this story is bigger than just three airlines.