Cambodia expands airports

The country’s aviation authority says a US$100 million project to expand passenger terminals at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap international airports is underway.
Cambodia Airports’ communications director, Khek Norinda, told local media that the development, which started in January, will see an extension of parking lots and terminals, as well as adding more check-in and immigration counters and new baggage handling systems.
“The commercial area will be enlarged to offer more retail space for shops, food and beverage outlets and a mezzanine CIP lounge to cater to first-class and business travellers.”
Visitors to Cambodia, rose to 4.2 million last year, compared to 3.68 million in 2012, according to Ministry of Tourism statistics.
The director added: “Each airport will double its capacity to 5 million passengers per year from the current 2.5 million passengers.”
It is estimated the extensions will be completed by the end of 2015 for Siem Reap airport and 2016 for Phnom Penh.
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.
Last year, Cambodia’s Societe Concessionaire de l’Aeroport (SCA), known simply as Cambodia Airports, awarded two contracts to a joint venture formed by France-based Vinci Construction Grands Projects and to Malaysia-based Muhibbah Engineering Bhd.
The contract covers the expansion of both airports to allow them to handle up to 5 million passengers a year, from the current 2.5 million by 2015.

Sourced: ttrweekly