SIEM REAP: A senior civil aviation official said that currently the number of air passengers travelling through Siem Reap Angkor International Airport is at an average of 2,600 per day after opening last week.

Civil Aviation Spokesperson Sin Chanserivutha said on October 24, that at present, the new airport services 17 one-way flights and 34 round trip flights. He said that after the official opening of Siem Reap Angkor International Airport on October 16, the number of air passengers increased significantly to 2,600 per day, with about 80% of seats filled on each aircraft.

There are currently seven airlines flying in and out of the new airport, including six foreign companies and one local company.

The airport is 40 km from Angkor Wat and 51 km from Siem Reap. Its International Air Transport Association code is SAI and its International Civil Aviation Organization is VSDA.

SAI has 38 terminals and is able to handle seven million passengers and 65,800 flights per year and transport 10,000 tons of air cargo, which it aims to double by 2040.

As of October 23, the airport employs 447 staff members including 82 Chinese management and technical staff and 365 Cambodian staff. The airport will be operated by Chinese businesses for 55 years based on the $1.1 billion loan agreement.