The construction of the $1.5 billion new Phnom Penh Airport has been 24 percent completed as of May and proceeding as planned in the face of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic, authorities said.
The airport is being built in Kandal province and part of Takeo province and it is set to start operations in 2023. Kong Sophorn, governor of Kandal province, said work is ongoing as scheduled.
Three main constructions – the terminal hall, airfield, and control center – are already in place.
The terminal hall construction includes check-in areas, arrival, and departure terminal, and other supporting facilities.
The airfield construction will ultimately consist of four runways and service taxiways while the control center being more than 108 meters high.
“Once the new airport is completed and in operation, it will provide an economic boost to Kandal province as well as to Cambodia as a whole because the airport is one of the largest in the region and will handle more tourist passengers to Cambodia,” Sophorn said.
Announced officially in 2018 the new airport will be a 4F class airport, which is the highest possible classification for an airport allowing the take-off and landing of all sizes of aircraft.
It will be 5 times bigger than the current Phnom Penh airport occupying 2,600ha and it will be the main airport serving the capital.
The airport’s construction consists of three stages with the first stage from 2018 to 2023, the second up to 2030, and the third stretching to 2050.
The new Phnom Penh International Airport is being funded by local firm Overseas Cambodia Investment Corporation, which has a 90 percent stake in the project with 10 percent belonging to the state-run State Secretariat of Civil Aviation.
“We are aware that the pandemic has disrupted many projects and the economy, but the construction of the airport in Kandal province and other airport projects in the country have been on schedule,” SSCA spokesman Sinn Chanserey Vutha confirmed with E-ARTS Cambodia.
Earlier this year, the Investment firm announced its project to build the flyovers ( elevated expressway) connecting the new airport and the center of Phnom Penh which is 21 kilometers distant.
The flyover project will cost around $400 million and construction of its first phase will begin next year.
Currently, two other airports are under construction in Cambodia – New Siem Reap International Airport and Dara Sakor International Airport.
Chansereyvutha said the construction of Dara Sakor is expected to commence later this year or early next year.
The company is currently in the process of Applying for Airport Operator Certification, one of the essential requirements before an airport can be given the green light.
