Flights Put New Siem Reap Airport to Test
Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport is in the Sotr Nikum district, about 40km from UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park and 50km from Siem Reap city. Photo: SSCA
- By Torn Chanritheara
- October 5, 2023 7:00 PM
PHNOM PENH – Siem Reap’s new international airport has successfully conducted test flights ahead of operation next week, the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) says.
Sky Angkor Airlines flew from Phnom Penh, Cambodia Airways from Preah Sihanouk and China Eastern Airlines from China’s Kunming city.
SSCA said the planes landed smoothly and successfully one after another.
Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport is in the Sotr Nikum district, about 40km from UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park and 50km from Siem Reap city.
Mao Havanall, Minister in Charge of SSCA, inspected operations including air transport, air traffic control, check-in services, security as well as arrival and departure processes.
The test flights were conducted to ensure that the airport is technically qualified and offers ground services in accordance with standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization and SSCA regulations before operations start on Oct. 16.
Havanall said the airport will boost flight and air cargo services from Cambodia to regional areas and long-distance destinations because it can handle medium and large aircraft such as the Airbus 350 and 330 and the Boeing 787-900.
Angkor International Airport Investment (Cambodia), an affiliate of China's Yunnan Investment Holdings, has invested $1,100 million in the project.
The airport will be able to handle seven million passengers next year and 12 million in 2040. It will have an air cargo capacity of 10,000 tonnes next year and 26,000 tonnes in 2040 and will be able to receive 65,800 flights next year and 112,700 in 2040.
The current airport will cease operation from midnight on Oct. 15.
