PHNOM PENH: Construction on the new $1.1 billion Siem Reap Angkor International Airport is more than 98% complete, and the airport is scheduled to open as planned in October 2023.

The airport, located 50 kilometers southeast of Siem Reap and 40 kilometers from Angkor Wat, will be able to accommodate large aircraft and handle up to 10 million passengers per year.

It is being built on a 700-hectare site and will have a runway that can accommodate aircraft up to code E, such as the Airbus A340-300, A350-900, and Boeing 777 and 747. The airport will also have 38 flight lines and could accommodate up to 7 million passengers annually.

The airport is being developed by Angkor International Airport Investment (AIAI), a joint venture between three Chinese companies: Yunnan Investment Company, Yunnan Construction Company, and Yunnan Airport Operations Management Company. AIAI has a contract concession to operate the airport.

Once the new airport is open, the old Siem Reap International Airport will be converted into an international conference and exhibition hall. This proposal was made by Minister of Tourism Thong Khon to Prime Minister Hun Sen recently.

The opening of the new Siem Reap Angkor International Airport is a significant milestone for Cambodia's tourism industry. The airport is expected to boost tourism arrivals and help the country achieve its goal of becoming a regional aviation hub.