Cambodian airports to double capacity

Expansion plans will double passenger capacity at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports in Cambodia, according to a local aviation official.

The project will expand parking areas, terminals and all facilities at the two international airports, Khek Norinda, communications director for Cambodia Airports, said.

''Each airport will double its capacity to 5 million [passengers per year] from the current 2.5 million [passengers per year]'' the Cambodia Daily on Monday quoted Mr Norinda as saying.

The project - the first phase of which began this month - is being undertaken to cater to increasing numbers of tourists arriving in Cambodia. The country welcomed 4.2 million tourists last year, an increase of 520,000 visitors from the previous year, according to the Cambodia Tourism Ministry.

The expansion plan for Siem Reap airport is expected to be completed in 2015 while the airport in Phnom Penh will be complete one year later.

Siem Reap, which is home to the ancient Angkor Wat temple complex, is the busiest airport in Cambodia. Passenger traffic at the airport jumped 20% to 2.7 million passengers last year, while Phnom Penh airport saw passenger figures up 15% to 2.2 million.

A consortium led by French firm Vinci Construction and Malaysian company Muhibbah Engineering was awarded the contract for the two projects last year by Cambodia Airports.

Cambodia Airports manages the two airports and another in Sihanoukville.

Sourced: Cambodia News