Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport

Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport^[a] (IATA: SAI, ICAO: VDSA) is an international airport in Soutr Nikom District, Siem Reap province that serves the city of Siem Reap, Cambodia. It is 18 km (11 mi) northeast of Damdek, 40 km (25 mi) east of Angkor Wat and 50 km (31 mi) east of Siem Reap. It is the largest airport in Cambodia.^[2][1] SAI covers an area of 700 hectares (1,730 acres) of land and has a 3,600 m runway.^[4] The airport can handle 65,800 flights and 7 million passengers annually, projected to increase to 112,700 flights and 12 million passengers annually from 2040.^[5]

Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport អាកាសយានដ្ឋានអន្តរជាតិសៀមរាប-អង្គរ
IATA: SAI ICAO: VDSA
Summary
Airport type	Public
Operator	Yunnan Aviation Industry Investment Group^[1]
Serves	Siem Reap
Location	Sotr Nikum, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Opened	16 October 2023; 6 months ago (2023-10-16)^[2]^[3]
Hub for	Cambodia Airways Cambodia Angkor Air Lanmei Airlines Sky Angkor Airlines
Focus city for	Vietnam Airlines
Operating base for	AirAsia Cambodia
Coordinates	13°22′31″N 104°13′15″E / 13.37528°N 104.22083°E / 13.37528; 104.22083
Website	english.sai-airport.com
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 05/23 3,605 11,827 Concrete

History

The airport was built to replace Siem Reap International Airport, which proved unable to handle increased traffic and caused damage to Angkor Wat due to pollution.^[6][3][7] The project was introduced in 2010,^[8] and a Chinese company, Yunnan Investment Holdings Limited, was selected to build the airport in December 2016. The airport was constructed under a 55-year build–operate–transfer agreement.^[9]

Construction started in July 2018, and was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a labor shortage. The airport opened on 16 October 2023.^[3]

Features

The airport cost US$1.1 billion and occupies an area of 700 hectares. The airport has a passenger terminal with 15 jet bridges, a cargo terminal, an air traffic control Tower, a 3,605-metre runway with a parallel taxiway. The terminal can handle 7 million passengers per year in the first phase.^[9]

The airport's runway is capable of handling narrow-body aircraft like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320, and wide-body aircraft like the Boeing 747, Boeing 777, Boeing 787, Airbus A330, and Airbus A350, and future expansion will increase the airport's capacity to 12 million passengers per year, by 2030.^[9] The third phase, planned for completion by 2050, will increase the total capacity to over 20 million passengers per year. The airport is planned to be connected with an airport expressway directly from the city.^[10][2]

Ground transportation services are provided by minibuses with up to 15 seats charging US$8 per person for shared rides, and minivans with up to 7 seats charging US$40 for private transfers.^[11]

Airlines and destinations

Airlines	Destinations
AirAsia	Kuala Lumpur–International^[12]
AirAsia Cambodia	Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville (both begin 2 May 2024)^[13]
Bangkok Airways	Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi^[14]
Cambodia Angkor Air	Da Nang, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville^[15]
China Eastern Airlines	Kunming, Shanghai–Pudong
Lao Airlines	Pakse
Singapore Airlines	Singapore^[16]
Sky Angkor Airlines	Seoul–Incheon Charter: Cheongju, Daegu, Muan
Thai AirAsia	Bangkok–Don Mueang^[12]
Thai Airways International	Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi^[17]
VietJet Air	Hanoi^[18]
Vietnam Airlines	Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Luang Prabang^[19]

See also

• List of airports in Cambodia
• Siem Reap International Airport

Notes

1. Khmer: អាកាសយានដ្ឋានអន្តរជាតិសៀមរាប-អង្គរ, French: Aéroport International de Siem Reap-Angkor, Chinese: 暹粒吴哥国际机场

References

1. "Cambodia's newest and biggest airport opens in Siem Reap, the gateway to UNESCO-listed Angkor". CNN. 18 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
2. "New Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport New Airport Profile | CAPA". centreforaviation.com. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
3. 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.
4. "Cambodia Opens New Airport To Serve Angkor Wat". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
5. Raksmey, Chhorn (16 October 2023). "New Siem Reap Airport Officially Opens". kiripost.
6. "In Cambodia, Toxic Air Threatens Timeless Ruins". NBC News. 15 July 2014.
7. "Feature: High hopes for Cambodia's touristic, economic growth as Chinese-invested airport starts operation". Xinhua News. 16 October 2023.
8. Govindasamy, Siva (22 September 2010). "Cambodia eyes new airport for Siem Reap". Flight Global.
9. Kenyon, Barry (18 October 2023). "New Cambodian airport opens in Siem Reap". Pattaya Mail.
10. "New Road Siem Reap Link to Angkor International Airport Good Opportunity Invest". www.cambodiaproperty.info. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
11. "Bus and taxi services at new Siem Reap Angkor International Airport detailed - Khmer Times". 18 October 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
12. "AirAsia relocates to Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport". TIG Asia. 20 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
13. Liu, Jim. "AirAsia Cambodia Outlines Initial Operations From May 2024". AeroRoutes. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
14. "Bangkok Airways Siem Reap Service Changes From mid-Oct 2023". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
15. "Changing Airport in Siem Reap to customers". Cambodia Angkor Air. 9 April 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
16. "Relocation of Siem Reap airport operations". Singapore Airlines. 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
17. "Thai rolls out winter flight schedule". TTR Weekly. 22 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
18. "Vietjet To Connect Siem Reap and Hanoi". Kiripost. 2 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
19. "Transferring to Siem Reap Angkor International Airport". Vietnam Airlines. Retrieved 2 October 2023.

External links

• Official website