The latest round of armed clashes along the Thailand–Cambodia border has prompted curfews, land border closures, and elevated travel alerts from several governments. Yet even as artillery fire and airstrikes have unsettled frontier provinces since mid-2025, airlines such as Thai Airways and Emirates have kept their Thailand–Cambodia routes operating, rerouting around restricted airspace and adding capacity to meet demand. For travelers, the contrast is stark: shuttered land checkpoints on one hand, and a surprisingly resilient air corridor on the other. Here is what you need to know right now if you are flying to, from, or between Thailand and Cambodia.
Border Crisis in Context: Clashes, Ceasefires and Closed Checkpoints
The current tensions stem from a sharp escalation along disputed stretches of the frontier that began in July 2025 and flared again in early December. Reports from regional and international outlets describe exchanges of artillery fire, drone attacks and airstrikes in border provinces on both sides, with civilian areas and key logistics routes affected. By late December, independent tallies suggested hundreds of thousands of people had been displaced from frontline communities as fighting intensified.
In response, Thailand closed all official land border checkpoints with Cambodia for periods beginning in late June and again in July 2025, halting cross-border travel and trade by road except for narrowly defined humanitarian movements. Martial law and curfews were introduced in several Thai provinces abutting Cambodia, including Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi and Trat, tightening security and restricting movement in districts closest to the fighting zones.
Cambodia responded with its own security measures, reinforcing border positions and evacuating civilians from exposed areas. The contested zones are clustered in relatively remote provinces such as Si Sa Ket, Surin and Ubon Ratchathani on the Thai side, and Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey and Banteay Meanchey on the Cambodian side. These locations are far from the main tourist hubs, but the images of closed checkpoints and displaced families have raised understandable concerns among visitors planning overland trips.
Diplomatic efforts have produced temporary ceasefires, including a 72-hour truce announced in late December that helped reduce the tempo of hostilities. However, sporadic clashes, lingering mistrust and the continued presence of land mines have kept the frontier volatile. As of mid-February 2026, many secondary land crossings remain closed or heavily restricted, and travelers are being urged by multiple governments to avoid non-essential travel in the immediate border areas.
Airspace Restrictions vs. Open Skies: How Flights Keep Moving
One of the most striking aspects of this crisis is the split between closed borders on the ground and relatively open skies above. In July 2025, Cambodia issued a Notice to Airmen, or NOTAM, temporarily closing a segment of its airspace along parts of the border where fighting was heaviest. Thailand followed with its own NOTAM for adjoining airspace on its side of the frontier, effectively carving out a no-fly zone over specific conflict corridors.
Normally, such notices can lead to widespread disruption, especially when they intersect busy regional flight paths. In this case, however, aviation authorities in both countries moved quickly to redraw routes and manage traffic flows. Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority and Aeronautical Radio of Thailand coordinated with military and airspace management bodies to reroute flights around the restricted zone, adjusting altitudes and waypoints so that commercial aircraft could continue operating safely.
Cambodia’s State Secretariat of Civil Aviation has issued similar assurances, stating that while airspace over certain fighting zones remains closed, there has been no blanket restriction affecting international airports at Phnom Penh, Siem Reap Angkor and other key hubs. Instead, the no-fly areas are tightly localized, allowing most scheduled services to and from Thailand to continue without significant delay.
The result is a surprising resilience in the air corridor. Even during some of the heaviest ground clashes in December 2025, civil aviation officials in Phnom Penh maintained that flights between Cambodian airports and Bangkok were operating as usual. The message has been consistent into early 2026: despite continued clashes in isolated sectors, air routes are being actively managed to keep passengers and crews away from danger, and there has been no reported impact on operations at major international airports.
Thai Airways: Adjustments, Bigger Jets and Repatriation Readiness
At the center of this effort on the Thai side is Thai Airways International, the country’s flag carrier. Rather than suspending services, the airline has chosen to fine-tune its Bangkok–Phnom Penh schedule and capacity while publicly emphasizing that safety remains paramount. Shortly after the first major escalation in July 2025, Thai Airways temporarily suspended some frequencies on this route but kept critical daily flights running, in coordination with the Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh.
Key flights, notably TG586 and TG587 on the Bangkok–Phnom Penh–Bangkok rotation, have continued to operate, often with upgraded aircraft. The airline has swapped smaller narrow-body jets for larger wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 787-8 on certain days, adding more seats to accommodate travelers seeking to leave Cambodia or adjust plans at short notice. Other rotations, like TG584 and TG585, were paused temporarily during the most acute phases of the crisis but have been brought back or adjusted as conditions allowed.
Thai Airways has also played a central role in contingency planning. Working closely with Thai authorities, the carrier has outlined readiness measures for potential repatriation operations should the security situation deteriorate around Cambodian cities served by air. This includes the option to upscale aircraft size, add extra sections and coordinate with local ground handlers for rapid processing of Thai nationals and other passengers needing to return home quickly.
The overall approach has been deliberately flexible rather than drastic: keep the corridor open, respond in real time to passenger demand and government guidance, and avoid hasty cancellations that could strand travelers. For passengers, it means the need to monitor schedules carefully and stay in close contact with the airline, but not to assume that a border clash automatically translates into grounded flights.
Emirates, Full-Service Giants and the Long-Haul Connection
The resilience of the Thailand–Cambodia air link is not just a regional story. Long-haul carriers such as Emirates and Turkish Airlines, which connect Cambodia and Thailand to hubs in the Middle East and Europe, have also kept their schedules largely intact. These airlines feed substantial traffic into Bangkok and, increasingly, into Cambodia, serving both tourists and business travelers who rely on seamless transfers and predictable connections.
Emirates in particular has emerged as a key player in maintaining connectivity between the Gulf and mainland Southeast Asia. Operating into Thailand’s main international gateway and participating in the Thailand–Cambodia corridor through onward links and code-share arrangements, the Dubai-based carrier has prioritized stability and clear communication. Despite evolving security assessments along the border, its flights into Bangkok have continued to operate on standard routings outside the restricted zones outlined in regional NOTAMs.
On the Cambodian side, recent aviation data underscore how deeply integrated the country has become within the wider network. As of February 2026, civil aviation authorities in Phnom Penh report approximately 270 weekly flights between Cambodia and Thailand, operated by 10 airlines. Alongside three Cambodian carriers, five Thai airlines maintain dense schedules, joined by Emirates and Turkish Airlines on specific city pairs and through-traffic flows.
For long-haul travelers, this tapestry of services means that one of the most reliable ways to move between Cambodia and Thailand during the border crisis is to connect via a major hub. Whether routing through Bangkok, Dubai, Istanbul or another international gateway, passengers benefit from the operational resilience of large network airlines that are practiced in adjusting flight paths and schedules to avoid conflict zones while keeping itineraries intact.
What Travelers Need to Know: Safety, Routing and Ground Reality
The first and most important point for visitors is that the fighting is confined to specific border regions and has not spread to Thailand’s or Cambodia’s main tourist destinations or urban centers. Cities such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya and Koh Samui in Thailand, as well as Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in Cambodia, continue to welcome travelers, with hotels, attractions and local transport operating normally.
Airports in these cities have not been directly affected by the clashes. There have been no reported incidents involving commercial flights, and aviation authorities stress that all routing changes occur well clear of populated areas and routine flight paths. The risk profile for passengers flying into or out of these airports remains broadly comparable to pre-crisis conditions, according to airline and government briefings.
The situation is very different on the ground in frontier districts. Travelers wishing to cross overland between the two countries, whether by bus, private car or on foot, can face sudden closures, detours and lengthy delays. Some smaller checkpoints have been intermittently closed or placed under tight military control, while more heavily trafficked crossings have seen enhanced screening and sporadic shutdowns tied to local security alerts.
As a result, tourism boards and consular services consistently recommend favoring air travel over land routes for any journey that touches the border provinces. Even for overlanders who enjoy slow travel and cross-border road trips, this is not the moment to improvise on backcountry roads or to ignore official advisories. Shifting front lines, unexploded ordnance and curfew rules can change local conditions far faster than social media or word-of-mouth updates can keep pace.
Official Advisories: Reading Between the Lines for Your Trip
A growing number of foreign ministries, including those of regional partners in Asia, have raised their travel alert levels for the Thai–Cambodian border areas. These advisories often discourage non-essential travel to named provinces on both sides and, in some cases, urge nationals already in the affected zones to relocate to safer regions. The alerts, however, usually draw a clear distinction between the immediate conflict corridor and the rest of each country.
Thailand’s own tourism and aviation agencies have issued notices that highlight heightened security measures in eastern and northeastern provinces while emphasizing that domestic and international flights elsewhere remain fully operational. Curfew orders in districts closest to the fighting, particularly in parts of Sa Kaeo and neighboring provinces, are designed to reduce nighttime movements and ease the burden on security forces, not to disrupt tourism in coastal or urban destinations hundreds of kilometers away.
Cambodian authorities, meanwhile, stress that land borders have been closed or restricted primarily for safety and logistical reasons, but that air and water transport continue. Official statements point to steady flight numbers between Cambodia and Thailand, and to rising passenger volumes on key routes linking Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Bangkok. Travelers are encouraged to follow updates from their own embassies, as recommendations may differ slightly between countries depending on risk thresholds and evacuation capabilities.
For the average visitor, the practical implication is straightforward: heed the warnings for named border districts, but do not conflate localized conflict with a nationwide shutdown. If your itinerary focuses on established tourist circuits and major cities, and you are traveling by air, the operational picture remains far more normal than the headlines about artillery and airstrikes would suggest.
Practical Flight Advice: Booking Smart in a Volatile Moment
If you are planning to fly between Thailand and Cambodia, or connect through one country on your way to the other, a few steps can dramatically improve your margin of safety and flexibility. Start by prioritizing non-stop or same-airline connections wherever possible. Booking a continuous ticket on a major carrier such as Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways or Emirates gives you greater protection if schedules shift, as airlines tend to re-accommodate through-passengers before those on fragmented, separate itineraries.
Monitor your flights closely in the days leading up to departure. While core routes have remained remarkably stable, short-notice aircraft swaps, schedule tweaks or consolidation of lightly loaded flights can occur, particularly as airlines respond to changes in demand driven by news from the border. Most carriers now offer real-time notifications via apps, email or text, and these can be invaluable if a departure time is brought forward or pushed back at short notice.
Travel insurance with robust trip interruption and delay coverage is more than a box-ticking exercise in this environment. Look for policies that explicitly cover civil unrest and route disruptions, and read the fine print about what happens if governments change their advisories after you have already begun your trip. In a dynamic situation, having a policy that allows for flexible rebooking or partial refunds can make the difference between a stressful scramble and a manageable inconvenience.
Finally, resist the temptation to rely solely on informal online chatter when making safety decisions. While local forums and social channels can offer useful on-the-ground color, they may lag behind or misinterpret official guidance. Combining real-time airline updates with advisories from recognized authorities and reputable news outlets will give you a clearer picture of the actual risk along your route.
Looking Ahead: A Corridor Under Pressure, But Still Open
As of mid-February 2026, the Thailand–Cambodia border crisis remains unresolved. Ceasefires have brought periodic lulls, but deep-rooted grievances, competing narratives and the continued militarization of certain sectors keep the risk of renewed flare-ups alive. Humanitarian organizations warn that displaced communities will face a long road back to normality even if sustained peace takes hold.
In the skies above, however, the picture is one of continuity and cautious adaptation rather than collapse. Airlines such as Thai Airways and Emirates have aligned with aviation authorities to keep vital routes open, maneuvering around restricted airspace and fine-tuning capacity without sacrificing safety. Cambodia’s latest civil aviation figures highlight a dense web of weekly flights linking its airports with Bangkok and beyond, underscoring the economic and social importance of preserving these connections.
For travelers, the lesson is nuanced but empowering: the crisis is real, and it demands respect and vigilance, especially anywhere near the frontline provinces or border roads. Yet it does not mean that trips to Bangkok, Phnom Penh or the beaches and temples of the region are off the table. With careful planning, strong situational awareness and a willingness to pivot if conditions change, it is still possible to move through this troubled corridor by air, even as the frontier below remains one of Southeast Asia’s most contested fault lines.