Phnom Penh International Airport welcomes Emirates and expands its connectivity
Phnom Penh – December 22, 2017.
Crossing the 8-million passenger mark, the 3 international airports break a record
The airports in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville record soaring traffic and their combined number of inbound and outbound of passengers reach today the 8-million mark for the first time. This new record follows suit the milestone reached last year when the airports welcomed 7 million passengers.
A celebratory event was held this morning at Phnom Penh International Airport, which is likely to finish this year as Cambodia’s busiest platform. Organized by Cambodia Airports, it gathered the whole airport community, from airlines to governmental agencies, and tenants.
Éric DELOBEL, CEO of Cambodia Airports, unveiled the record-breaking news and said: “The 8-million mark comes at a very opportune time as we are right in the middle of the Season’s Greetings. Therefore, I would like to extend my appreciation to our airport community for the outstanding work and commitment leading to the achievement. The success of the airports is the success of Cambodia.”
Since the last 5 years, the international airports in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap have been embarking in a full-fledged overhaul program to accommodate traffics growth. Last week, it materialized again by the official inauguration of Phnom Penh international’s new arrivals halls and extension of the boarding lounge. At the same time, Sihanouk International Airport is completing a terminal extension scheduled for commissioning in the first half of 2018 and about to launch a runway capacity overhaul.
The completed and near-end expansions are going to match with visitors expected in Cambodia by 2020, which should, according to statistics of Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism, reach 7 million. Studies for future development at the 3 airports will be conducted in the coming months.
The inaugural flight of Emirates, which landed at the airport on July 1st at 9:20 pm, kicked off a new daily air service linking Phnom Penh and Dubai with a stop in Yangon. Cambodia’s capital city airport and travellers to/from the Kingdom should significantly benefit from the connection with Dubai airport, the world’s number one hub for international passengers.
While heading to its stand, a water cannon salute greeted the carrier’s Boeing 777, the largest passenger airplane operating in Cambodia. Upon disembarkation passengers of the maiden flight received garlands and kramas, traditional Khmer scarves. A wishing dance was performed at the airport’s boarding lounge for passengers departing to Dubai. Attending the ceremonies, Éric Delobel, CEO of Cambodia Airports, said:
This Emirates aircraft touching down at Phnom Penh International Airport brings a wealth of opportunities by further bolstering Cambodia’s profile as one of the fastest growing economies and most popular tourism destinations in the region. It will be instrumental in boosting the airport connectivity and the number of air travellers. It also comes as the reward of Emirates’ and Cambodia Airports cooperation, together with Cambodian civil aviation authority, throughout the years.
The 3 international airports, strategically located and serving the country’s 3 economic and tourism epicenters, currently handles more than 30 airlines serving more than 40 destinations. As main entry points to Cambodia and hubs serving other destinations within the country, the airports are drivers for the economy. The direct, indirect, induced and catalytic impacts of the international airports represented 17% of the GDP and 1.7 million jobs or 20% of the working population of the country.