Sihanouk International Airport, also known as Kang Keng Airport and formerly known as Sihanoukville International Airport, is Cambodia’s third international airport. It is located approximately 20km east of Sihanoukville city centre.
The existing passenger terminal at the airport has been refurbished to provide improved passenger comfort with new facilities and to cater to the growing domestic and international passenger traffic.
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Ground-breaking of the passenger terminal expansion and renovation was held in December 2016 and the refurbished terminal was opened in June 2018. The upgraded passenger terminal can accommodate up to 500,000 passengers a year.
The terminal expansion and infrastructure enhancement project is part of a $2bn investment programme aimed at improving the kingdom’s three international airports through to 2040. The programme supports the country’s economic and social development and boosts tourism growth and business development.
Passenger traffic at the airport increased by 115% to 338,000 in 2017 from the previous year.
Sihanouk International Airport history and details
The airfield at the Sihanoukville International Airport was built in 1960s and began domestic flight operations in 1983. The airport was upgraded to the international standard and was formally reopened in January 2007 after a long period of dormancy during the Khmer Rouge era.
The Royal Government of Cambodia awarded a 35-year concession contract for the Sihanoukville airport to Cambodia Airports, formerly Société Concessionnaire des Aéroports (SCA), in July 2006.
Cambodia Airports, which is 70% owned by French airport operator VINCI Airports and 30% by Masteron Cambodia, will build, rehabilitate, operate and transfer the airport under a public-private partnership.
The navigation and visual aids at the airport include VOR/DME radio navigation system, non-directional beacon NDB and precision approach path indicator (PAPI).
Spread over 123.84ha, the airport has a passenger terminal building and a cargo terminal building. It is currently served by seven airlines, including Air Asia, Cambodia Angkor Air, Cambodia Bayon Airlines, JC International Airlines, Lanmei Airlines, Ruili Airlines, and Sky Angkor Airlines.
Details of terminal renovation and expansion
The Sihanouk International Airport terminal redevelopment project involved renovation of the existing passenger terminal building and extension of the terminal from 2,700m² to 4,800m².
Check-in, boarding lounge, and baggage claim areas have been completely refurbished to help speed-up check-in and boarding processes.
The revamped terminal is installed with advanced check-in, security, customs and immigration facilities, and a new baggage handling system.
It has separate domestic and international departures and arrivals halls, and a lounge for domestic and international departures.
The new terminal also features food and beverage outlets, shops, and local and international lounges such as Blue Flight, The Monkey Republic, and Plaza Premium Lounge.
Runways, aprons and taxiways at Sihanouk International Airport
Sihanouk International Airport was originally built with two taxiways and a single asphalt-surfaced 4C type runway measuring 2.2km-long and 40m-wide.
The runway length was extended by 300m, to 2.5km, to accommodate jet aircraft such as Boeing 737, ATR72 or equivalent. A parallel taxiway was built in 2007 to provide improved cargo services.
Plans are underway to further lengthen the existing runway by 800m to 3.3km in order to accommodate large aircraft. A new taxiway is also planned to be built to handle larger aircraft (Class 4E) to improve the airside capacity.
The parking area, which is 275m-long and 80m-wide, can accommodate up to five aircraft.
