IndiGo Expands Routes to World’s Largest Religious Temple City

KOLKATA – IndiGo Airlines (6E) has unveiled plans for its inaugural service to Cambodia, introducing direct flights between Kolkata and Siem Reap from November 13, 2025.

This noteworthy step establishes IndiGo as the first Indian airline to offer direct flights to Cambodia, creating a new air corridor between these nations.

The route will be operational three times weekly using Airbus A320neo aircraft, linking Kolkata with Siem Reap, famous for the iconic Angkor Wat temple complex.

This new service responds to the rising demand for direct connections between eastern India and Southeast Asian destinations. It particularly caters to leisure travelers interested in cultural and heritage tourism.

IndiGo to Launch Flights to Cambodia

This new service will be available three times a week on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays using Airbus A320neo aircraft.

• Flight 6E1655 departs Kolkata at 01:50 AM, arriving in Siem Reap at 06:20 AM local time.
• The return flight 6E1656 leaves Siem Reap at 07:20 AM local time, reaching Kolkata at 08:55 AM.

While the early morning departure from Kolkata might appear unconventional, it offers an advantage for travelers. Passengers can leave at night and arrive in Siem Reap early, allowing them to check into their hotel and start exploring by mid-morning.

The return schedule also proves convenient, featuring a morning departure that gets travelers back to Kolkata by noon.

Second India-Cambodia Connection

With this flight, IndiGo’s Kolkata–Siem Reap route becomes only the second direct connection between India and Cambodia.

Currently, flights between Phnom Penh and New Delhi are operated by Air Cambodia. Thus, IndiGo’s Kolkata route serves as a complement rather than direct competition.

Choosing Siem Reap over Phnom Penh indicates that IndiGo aims to attract leisure travelers drawn to Angkor Wat, one of Southeast Asia’s prime tourist attractions.

Establishing Kolkata as the origin point for the service makes sense due to the historical and cultural ties to Southeast Asia, along with a burgeoning middle class that is increasingly traveling internationally.

The city has limited direct international connectivity compared to Delhi or Mumbai, making this route a strategic addition for eastern India, which has been underserved by Southeast Asian connections.

Expanding the Southeast Asian Network

The addition of Cambodia strengthens IndiGo’s network, now covering seven out of eleven Southeast Asian nations.

Current operations span Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, though flights to Myanmar are currently suspended. This expansion underscores IndiGo’s strategy to broaden its regional reach beyond domestic operations.

The airline still lacks direct services to the Philippines, Laos, Timor-Leste, and Brunei Darussalam, with the Philippines appearing to be a likely next destination due to its strong business and leisure travel potential and cultural ties to India.

Market Potential and Competition

The Cambodian tourism sector has experienced steady growth, with Angkor Wat attracting global tourists.

Indian travelers are increasingly venturing beyond traditional destinations like Thailand and Singapore, and Cambodia offers a unique cultural experience at affordable prices.

Currently, Indians traveling to Siem Reap generally make connections through Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, or Singapore. A direct flight from Kolkata makes travel more convenient, minimizing the hassle of layovers and significantly cutting travel time. This makes Cambodia more accessible for short trips and weekend getaways.

The three-times-weekly schedule indicates that IndiGo is likely gauging the market’s response before potentially increasing to daily flights.

A cautious approach to launching a new route is wise, as understanding demand patterns is essential. If the initial load factors are positive, a frequency increase could happen within a year.

IndiGo’s Hub Strategy and Network Impact

IndiGo is establishing Kolkata as a pivotal hub for this new route, facilitating connections for passengers traveling from various parts of India to Cambodia.

The launch of the Kolkata-Siem Reap route extends beyond mere point-to-point connectivity; it aims to tap into the vast potential passenger market across India.

The airline plans to utilize its extensive domestic network, which benefits travelers from eastern and northeastern India, as well as other areas, connecting through Kolkata to reach Siem Reap.

This hub strategy is set to enhance load factors on the route by attracting passengers from a wide catchment area, beyond just Kolkata itself.

IndiGo’s robust domestic presence includes multiple daily flights to Kolkata from various Indian cities, ensuring an adequate passenger feed to support its international operations.

Furthermore, Cambodia’s visa-on-arrival policy for Indian visitors enhances the appeal of this new route, making spontaneous travel simpler and more attractive.