Siem Reap International Airport

For the airport currently serving Siem Reap, see Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport.

Siem Reap International Airport^[a] (IATA: REP, ICAO: VDSR) was an international airport serving Siem Reap and Angkor. It opened in 1932 and closed in 2023 upon the opening of Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport. It was the second-busiest airport in Cambodia after Phnom Penh International Airport.^{[4][1][5][2][6]}

Siem Reap International Airport អាកាសយានដ្ឋានអន្តរជាតិសៀមរាប Aéroport international de Siem Reap
IATA: REP ICAO: VDSR
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	Cambodia Airports
Operator	VINCI Airports
Serves	Siem Reap, Cambodia
Opened	1932 (1932)
Closed	15 October 2023 (2023-10-15)^[1]^[2]
Hub for	Siem Reap Airways (2000—2008)
Elevation AMSL	60 ft / 18 m
Coordinates	13°24′38″N 103°48′46″E / 13.41056°N 103.81278°E / 13.41056; 103.81278
Website	rep.cambodia-airports.aero
Map
REP Location of airport in Cambodia
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 05/23 2,550 8,366 Concrete
Statistics (2022)
Passenger movements 372,000 Aircraft movements 4,773
Source: www.vinci-airports.com^[3]

History

Siem Reap Airport opened in 1932 under French supervision.^[7] A modern terminal was inaugurated in 2006.

Due to increased traffic and pollution damage caused to Angkor Wat, in 2010, plans for replacing the airport with a larger airport further from the temple complex were announced.^[8][2][6][9] After delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2023, the Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport was opened and the Siem Reap International Airport was closed.^[10]

Facilities

The airport was at an elevation of 60 feet (18 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 05/23 with a concrete surface measuring 2,550 by 45 metres (8,366 ft × 148 ft).^[11][12]

On 28 August 2006, a new terminal opened.^{[citation needed] [13]}

Air Traffic Control was provided by CATS (Cambodia Air Traffic Services), with full approach and aerodrome VHF facilities housed in the control tower between the fire station and the domestic terminal.^[14]

CATS are also responsible for clearing takeoffs and landings of tourist helicopters from the “Big Balloon” site, 3 km away, near Angkor Wat. Both Helicopters Cambodia and Sokha Helicopters operate from the airport, with Sokha mainly operating from the Big Yellow Balloon site.

The airport was 6 km outside Siem Reap, just off National Route 6 north. Runway alignments were 23 & 05, with only 23 being used for takeoff, due to flight restrictions over Angkor temple.

Airfield

• Runway: 2,550 m (8,370 ft) long x 45 m (148 ft) width (with shoulders 2.5 m wide each).
• Parallel taxiway: length: 240 m (790 ft) width: 20 m (66 ft) and 10 metres of shoulders. Under construction: 1 (length: 600 metres, width: 25 metres and 15 metres of shoulders).
• Number of stands: 10

 

Interior view of Siem Reap International Airport

 

Apron area of the airport

Former airlines and destinations

In November 2012, for one season, Condor operated service to/from Frankfurt using a Boeing 767. The outbound flight from Siem Reap operated via Phuket, while the inbound one was nonstop.^[15][16][17]

Airlines	Destinations
Siem Reap Airways	Bangkok–Don Mueang, Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Pakse, Phnom Penh

Statistics

Annual passenger traffic at REP airport. See Wikidata query.

Year	Passengers	Aircraft movements
2012	2,223,029	26,248
2013	2,663,337	31,590
2014	3,018,669	35,696
2015	3,296,513	37,296
2016	3,478,300	37,698
2017	4,209,000	43,568
2018	4,480,000	44,314
2019	3,926,000	39,750
2020	619,000	7,751
2021	2,000	161
2022	372,000	4,773

Accidents and incidents

In August 2002, a Bangkok Airways ATR 72-200 skidded off the runway. The airport was closed for two days.

See also

• List of airports in Cambodia
• Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport
• Battambang Airport
• Kampong Cham Airport
• Phnom Penh International Airport

Notes

1. Khmer: អាកាសយានដ្ឋានអន្តរជាតិសៀមរាប; French: Aéroport international de Siem Reap

References

1. "New Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport New Airport Profile | CAPA". centreforaviation.com. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
2. Cheang, Sopheng (16 October 2023). "Cambodia opens new airport to serve Angkor Wat as it seeks to boost tourist arrivals". ABC News. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
3. "Siem Reap international airport report from VINCI Airports – 2022 traffic levels" (PDF). VINCI airport. 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
4. "Cambodia Airports Traffic Data". Cambodia-airports.com.
5. "New Siem Reap International Airport to begin operations in October". TIG Asia. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
6. "Feature: High hopes for Cambodia's touristic, economic growth as Chinese-invested airport starts operation". Xinhua News. 16 October 2023.
7. Sebastian Strangio (23 February 2021). "John Burgess on the Modern Life of Angkor Wat". The Diplomat.
8. "In Cambodia, Toxic Air Threatens Timeless Ruins". NBC News. 15 July 2014.
9. Govindasamy, Siva (22 September 2010). "Cambodia eyes new airport for Siem Reap". Flight Global.
10. Kenyon, Barry (18 October 2023). "New Cambodian airport opens in Siem Reap". Pattaya Mail.
11. Airport information for VDSR^[usurped] from DAFIF (effective October 2006)
12. "State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (Cambodia)" (PDF). Schedule-coordination.jp. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
13. Siva Govindasamy (22 September 2010). "Cambodia eyes new airport for Siem Reap". Flightglobal.
14. "CATS". www.cats.com.kh.
15. "Condor stays on track for growth in winter 2012/13" (PDF) (Press release). Condor. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
16. "Condor Air commences Frankfurt-Siem Reap service". TTG Asia. 5 November 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
17. "Flight plan Winter 2013/14" (PDF). Condor. March 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2023.

External links

  Media related to Siem Reap International Airport at Wikimedia Commons

• Siem Reap International Airport at Cambodia International Airports website
• Current weather for VDSR at NOAA/NWS
• Accident history for REP at Aviation Safety Network