There’s a huge International airport in South East Asia that rivals the size of many others in the region with brand new modern facilities, multiple air bridges, the latest immigration and security technology, on a huge space of land, yet only serves a handful of flights every day. So why is it here?
The new Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport was opened in 2023 and replaces the original Siem Reap International Airport that had operated for the Cambodian region since the early 1930s. This new airport is located around a 50 minute drive from the main city of Siem Reap and is now the largest airport in Cambodia, even larger than Phnom Penh that serves the country’s capital.
The original Siem Reap International Airport, whilst closer to Siem Reap and more convenient for travellers wanting to visit this region, was getting busier and concerns were raised that it was potentially causing damage to Angkor Wat – the 900 year old UNESCO Heritage Listed temple.
So a $1.1B construction project was started in 2018 and after some delays due to COVID the brand new airport opened to travellers in 2023. The new International Airport has been built with big future growth in mind and is far larger than current traffic levels would required. When I was passing through there were only seven flights for that day listed on the departure board, and it was quite a strange feeling walking through the long empty corridors past unoccupied gates to get to your flight.
Currently the way to travel between the airport and Siem Reap city is by road but a new road has been built from the airport to the main freeway that connects Phnom Penh and Siem Reap making for a smooth and efficient ride, albeit one that takes just under an hour by car.
There are two future phases of expansion with a master plan to take the airport to 2050 and beyond as passenger numbers to this region continue to grow. But if you can get there before that happens it’s certainly an interesting experience to be inside a vast International airport yet feel like you’re the only one there.