PHNOM PENH: According to a spokesman for the Secretary of State for Civil Aviation, the Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport project is set to complete by 70% at the end of 2022, with 44 percent by the end of September.

Sin Chanserivutha, a spokesman for the Secretariat of State for Civil Aviation stated that the construction is underway. However, the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic hampered the travels of engineers from China, which forced the structure slightly slower pace than planned.

Furthermore, the delay causes seen by a shortage of construction equipment and higher shipping costs. Nevertheless, he stated that the international airport construction schedule is to complete and test the first run on March 30, 2023.

The Angkor International Airport Investment (Cambodia) Co., Ltd (AIAI) began construction on Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport on March 15, 2020, on an area of 700.06 hectares with an investment of approximately $ 880 million.

The airport will be capable of 7 million passengers annually with more than $500 million cost and then reach 20 million annually with another $300 million investment. The annual capacity is 10,000 tons per year on average in the short-term and 60,000 tons on average in the long-term