Proposed new airports in Koh Kong, Battambang and Mondulkiri provinces have been postponed according to the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation.
The SCCA spokesman Sin Chanserivutha confirmed plans to develop four Cambodian regional airports had been shelved in July 2021 due to the COVID-19 situation in the Kingdom.
"Airport investors are concerned that the Covid-19 outbreak is serious. Investors are not clear in calculating when the disease will be cured and when transportation will recover, which is why they are delaying investing in the airport" said Sin Chanserivutha.
Air passengers coming through the Kingdoms' three international airports (Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville and Siem Reap) have dropped by 92 per cent (136,680) in the first half of 2021.
Koh Kong Airport Postponed
One of the shelved projects is the $40 million joint venture between LYP group and Thai Airways, reported the
Khmer Times.
The original site for the development was the previous Koh Kong Airport in Khemarak Phoumin city. It had since already shifted to a site at Koh Por village in the Mondul Seima district of the province.
Dara Sakor Airport - Koh Kong - Opening Delayed
The Dara Sakor Airport, which was planned to open in June 2021 has also been delayed despite the construction actually having been completed.
The $350 million project is delayed as a technical team is unable to travel to the airport to oversee test flights because of the pandemic.
Mondulkiri Airport - Delayed
The SCCA feasibility study assessing an
airport in Mondulkiri was completed in March 2021 with China Power International Group agreeing to invest in the $60 million project last year.
The
Secretariat Of Civil Aviation (SCCA) previously confirmed the airport will be built over an area of 300 hectares
The plans are on hold until passenger demand increases.
Battambang Airport On Hold
An airport in Battambang funded by private investors is the fourth airport affected and plans are also now on hold.
The current inoperable airport is three kilometres from the Battambang city centre, with a total land area of 128.68 hectares. The runway length is around 1,600 metres with a width of 34 metres.
The new
Phnom Penh International Airport reached 40 per cent completion in May 2021 and is still is set to be operational in 2023. The new international airport in Siem Reap is also due for completion in 2023.
See more about all of the
Cambodian airports.
