SIEM REAP: The Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI) launched today its official commercial operation, after the airport flight demonstrations and tests of check-in demo, passenger boarding and landing as well as many other necessary procedures have been made successfully.

The launching ceremony was held in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Vongsey Vissoth, Minister of Tourism Sok Soken, Minister in charge of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation Mao Havannall, and representatives of the Angkor International Airport Investment Company.

Sixteen commercial flights are scheduled to land at the airport in the first day of commercial operation. Already available for airport transfers are minivans at $35, minibuses at $40 and a high-efficiency professional taxi service.

SAI has 38 terminals and is able to handle seven million passengers and 65,800 flights per year, with the goal of accommodating 12 million passengers by 2040. For now, the airport can transport 10,000 tonnes of air cargo per year and aims to handle 26,000 tonnes per year by 2040.

The airport’s official inauguration ceremony will be held on December 1, with Prime Minister Hun Manet presiding.

Construction of Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport began in March 2020 with an investment of approximately $1.1 billion US by Angkor International Airport Investment (AIAI), which is largely Chinese-owned. It is being built under the 55-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme. A BOT plan is a common project delivery method wherein a private entity receives a concession from the public sector to finance, design, construct, own, and operate a facility. The private entity (AIAI) will have the right to operate it for a set period of time (55 years) before it is public property.

According to the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation’s report, Cambodia registered 3.4 million air travellers during the first eight months of 2023, a year-on-year increase of 180%.

Tourism is one of the four pillars supporting Cambodia’s economy. The country attracted up to 6.61 million international tourists in 2019, generating gross revenue of $4.92 billion US, pointed out the Ministry of Tourism.