Siem Reap Angkor International Airport will officially start operations on October 16, the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) has officially announced.

According to the announcement, the new international airport, located in Kriel Pong Village and Provall Village in Sotr Nikum District, Siem Reap Province, has been granted the official name "Siem Reap Angkor International Airport" by the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC).

The airport has been assigned the official codes "SAI" by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and "VDSA" by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

In preparation for the seamless transition, all commercial flights of air passengers and cargo currently operating at Siem Reap International Airport (REP) will be transferred entirely to Siem Reap Angkor International Airport starting from midnight on October 16.

Prior to the official opening, Siem Reap Angkor International Airport will conduct non-commercial and non-profitable test flights between October 5 and 15 to ensure the airport's systems and operations are operating efficiently.

Chhay Sivlin, President of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents (CATA), said this is positive news for Cambodia, especially Siem Reap province as a whole, as Cambodia can welcome more visitors than previously.

“Siem Reap International Airport will be able to receive many large aircraft and direct flights and can handle more passengers, tourists, flights and foster economic growth in Siem Reap province,” Sivlin said.

She added that the airport is poised to elevate the air travel experience, attract more investors, bolster job creation and support the thriving tourism industry in the region.

The airport is expected to be able to handle about seven million passengers per year initially, increasing to 10 million by 2030 and 20 million by 2050. The airport's annual cargo capacity is also expected to rise from 10,000 tonnes initially to 60,000 tonnes by 2050.

The SAI airport is being built in three phases, at a cost of $880 million, spanning 750 hectares. It is located 50 km from the capital of Siem Reap province and 40 km from the temple of Angkor Wat.

The new airport will be larger and more modern, according to Chinese-owned Angkor International Airport Investment (Cambodia) Co., Ltd. which is undertaking the project. An affiliate of China’s Yunnan Investment Holding Group Co., Ltd. started its development phase in March 2020. A statement published by Xinhua said.

It will replace the existing Siem Reap Airport, which is located 8 km from Siem Reap city center and 6 km from Angkor Wat temple.