PM Hun Sen: Functions of Pochentong airport to change with new airport

• 22 June 2020
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Prime Minister Hun Sen has announced that after construction of the new Phnom Penh International Airport is complete, the functionality of Pochentong International Airport will be changed for use as a military airport, for domestic flights, air freight facilities, as a private jet landing area, and to welcome honoured guests arriving in Cambodia.

The announcement was made during the prime minister’s inspection visit at the construction site of the New Phnom Penh International Airport on the morning of 22 June 2020.

“I would like to take this opportunity to explain a little bit about whether to close down the old airport after the new one is finished or not. In my opinion, we will keep the old airport. However, its function will be changed into a military airport, because we can’t put the military airport here (at New Phnom Penh International Airport), we have to put in there (Pochentong airport),” he said.

For secondary functions, the prime minister intends to use it for domestic flights to Siem Reap and Sihanoukville provinces, as well as to Battambang and Ratanakiri airports, which are currently being renovated.

“Third, we will use it for air freight and as a jet flight landing area. This means our country has so many airplanes and we lack of space for landing them. We can arrange landing bases where other airlines can keep their planes with us. This airport will also be reserved for arrivals of honourable figures such as the King, foreign heads of state and prime ministers who visit Cambodia. They will land at Pochentong airport,” he added.

The new Phnom Penh International Airport is located in Preaek Slaeng commune, Kandal Steung district, Kandal province. The construction cost is estimated USD$ 1.5 billion on an area of 2,600-hectares. The project is an investment by Overseas Cambodia Investment Company (OCIC) which has completed 30% as phase one of the construction which is scheduled for completion in 2023. (Read more)