Siem Reap Angkor International Airport Triumphs in Non-Commercial Flight Test, Gearing Up for Commercial Operations

• 6 October 2023
• Local News
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Siem Reap Angkor International Airport has successfully concluded a comprehensive airport flight demonstration, clearing the way for the launch of commercial aircraft operations set for mid-October.

On 5 October 2023, the airport marked this achievement with the participation of three prominent airlines: Sky Angkor Airlines from Phnom Penh International Airport, Cambodia Airways departing from Sihanoukville International Airport, and China Eastern Airlines representing China’s Kunming International Airport.

The airport authorities exuberantly reported, “The results of the non-commercial flight demonstration of Siem Reap Angkor International are smooth and successful.”

The primary objective of this demonstration was to ascertain that Siem Reap Angkor International Airport meets the rigorous technical qualifications and adheres to ground service protocols in accordance with the stringent standards stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the regulations set forth by the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation. This meticulous preparation aims to ensure a seamless transition into handling a substantial volume of national and international flights, commencing on 16 October 2023.

“This achievement is set to bolster and expand air travel and passenger services from Cambodia to distant and regional destinations. Crucially, it will now accommodate medium and large aircraft like the Airbus 350, Airbus 330, or Boeing 787-900—aircraft types that Siem Reap International Airport, due to its proximity to the Angkor International Heritage Site, could not previously handle”, said HE Mao Havannall, the minister responsible for the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, during his inspection of this pivotal airport flight demonstration.

Originally conceived as a project requiring an investment capital of US$880 million in 2019, Siem Reap Angkor International Airport has experienced a remarkable surge in demand. This has led to an augmented investment of $1.1 billion by 2022. Such a significant increase underscores the airport’s pivotal role in addressing Cambodia’s burgeoning travel requirements and positioning itself as a prominent regional aviation hub. (Read more)

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