KR aiport in Kampong Chhnang

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-7pK3RNtZ4&feature=channel_video_title

Sacrava's Poiltical Cartoon: Killing the Golden Goose

New Airport Deal Inked for Siem Reap

Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Friday, 17 December 2010

The new airport will replace a facility that has seen a huge increase in tourist traffic over the past decade. Officials now worry the old airport’s proximity to the ancient temples of Angkor Wat could damage them.

Siem Reap is set to get a new international airport. In a joint venture between Caminco and the South Korean real estate developer Lees A&A, the new airport is expected to cost $1 billion and be finished in 2015.

The new airport will replace a facility that has seen a huge increase in tourist traffic over the past decade. Officials now worry the old airport’s proximity to the ancient temples of Angkor Wat could damage them.

The new airport will be built 50 kilometers from the existing one and will be large enough to allow larger aircraft in.

This will bring in more tourists and create more jobs, said Bun Tharith, deputy governor of Siem Reap. The town is expected to see 2.3 million visitors by the end of the year and 3 million visitors by 2015.

Flying to Cambodia: A $1 Billion Aerotropolis

Thursday, December 16, 2010
By Jenara Nerenberg
Fast Company

The New Siem Reap International Airport is breaking ground next year, backed by South Koreans.

How do you say "aerotropolis" in Khmer? Looks like we're about to find out.

Cambodia will begin construction on its very own airport city next year--the New Siem Reap International Airport, with an adjacent special economic zone, dry port, and 15.4 square mile city--to capitalize on increasing tourist numbers from neighboring countries and increasing foreign investment interest.

The airport will be completed in five and a half years at a cost of $1 billion and the contracted South Korean-Cambodian joint venture, NSRIA Co. Ltd., will operate it for 65 years. The airport, 25 miles east of Angkor Wat, will accommodate 747s, allowing direct flights to arrive from Europe and North America.

An airport city such as Cambodia's fits the label of an aerotropolis--a planned city with an airport as its central node and related infrastructure, businesses, and working families surrounding it. An Aerotropolis thus becomes an engine of local economic development, something Cambodia is desperately in need of.

"It doesn't matter how much they spend on the project, or how much expertise the South Korean investors bring to bear. What matters is how many flights a day the airport has, and to where," says Fast Company contributor and author of the forthcoming book, Aerotropolis: The Way We'll Live Next, Greg Lindsay.

"There's a saying that 'airlines don't serve airports; they serve markets,' meaning they want to go where passengers already are," says Lindsay. "In this case, the tourist draw of Angkor Wat could be a big help and considering the United Nations' World Tourism Organization expects China to have 100 million outbound tourists a year by 2020, Cambodia is probably trying to snag a few million."

Cambodia hopes that its very own aerotropolis will help spur local economic development, via foreign investment and the appeal of cheap labor. But the question remains whether there will be enough numbers flying in and out of the country. This year the country saw 2.3 million visitors, but the annual capacity of the new airport will be 15 million, leaving a huge gap to be filled. Where will all the tourists and foreign investors come from?

"With enough flights and enough connectivity, anything is possible," Lindsay tells Fast Company. "The likely model for Cambodia's aerotropolis is Subic Bay in the Philippines, which transformed the former U.S. Navy base into a fairly large high-tech manufacturing zone in the 1990s after FedEx opened its pan-Asian hub there."

As Cambodia is increasingly in competition with its neighbors--namely Vietnam, as well as China, where the first Kashgar-Pakistan cargo flight was just launched this week--it's likely that the country wants to secure its current standing among tourists and its future standing in the realm of trade.

"Vietnam is building its own massive new international airport outside Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok tried to build its own aerotropolis in 2006, only to be derailed by political turmoil," Lindsay points out. "Can Cambodia succeed in winning a piece for themselves? Who knows, but they're certainly willing to try."

Cambodian airport project includes new city

Dec 16, 2010
The Associated Press

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — A South Korean company contracted to build a new airport serving visitors to Cambodia's famed Angkor temples says its project will also encompass a new city and industrial estate.

NSRIA Co. Ltd., in a statement received Thursday, said its planned New Siem Reap International Airport and linked developments, worth $1 billion, represent "Cambodia's largest national project and Korea's first-ever export of its airport development and operation expertise."

The statement, which expands upon partial information previously released by the Cambodian government and in the Korean press, said it will hold the Build-Operate-Transfer concession for 65 years — covering five years of construction and 60 years of operation — after which it can be extended.

SKorean company gets contract for Angkor airport

Dec 15, 2010

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia has awarded a contract to a South Korean property developer to build a new international airport to serve the famous Angkor Wat temple complex, an official said Wednesday.

Chea Vuthy, a spokesman for the Cambodian Development Council, a government agency that oversees investment, said Lees A&A Co. will build the $1 billion airport in Siem Reap province.

He said the Cabinet approved the project in October.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency said construction would begin by the end of next year, with the first phase due to be completed in 2015. The airport will be 36 miles (60 kilometers) east of Angkor, Siem Reap provincial officials said.

Cambodia hosted 2.3 million visitors this year, with about half of them visiting the temples, according to Kong Sophearak, statistics director for the Tourism Ministry.

There is concern that the temples at Angkor, already damaged by warfare, looting and the ravages of weather, could be harmed by a further influx of tourists.

In October the U.S.-based Global Heritage Fund listed Angkor as one of more than 200 global heritage sites "facing irreversible loss and damage today."

Visitors climbing over the ruins are causing "heavy deterioration of original Khmer stonework," it warned in a report, adding that nearby hotels and restaurants are sapping the region's aquifer, causing some of the temples' towers to sink into the ground.

Yonhap said an expansion of the airport planned for 2032 would bring its capacity to about 15.5 million passengers annually. It cited the Korean company as saying it was negotiating with prospective investors to provide $500 million to finance the first phase of the project.

Chea Vuthy was unable to confirm the details. However, the Phnom Penh Post reported earlier that the contract had been awarded to NSIA Co., a joint venture of Lees A&A and Camco Airport, another South Korean company.

The newspaper quoted Siem Reap province Deputy Gov. Bun Tharith as saying the contract would be in the form of a build-operate-transfer agreement, which would eventually turn over control of the airport to the government.

Phnom Penh and Siem Reap get more flights but Sihanoukville remains in limbo

Oct 31, 2010
By Luc Citrinot, eTN

After over a year flying, CAA continues to only fly between Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, and Ho Chi Minh City. The airline is due to integrate in 2011 two new Airbus A321 and launch flights to China, Korea, and Japan. But Sihanoukville is still not on the airline’s radar, unless pressures mount up from the highest level of the Cambodian government. Maybe it would be the right time for the government to remember that it owns 51 percent of CAA's shares.

PHNOM PENH (eTN) - Société Concessionnaire des Aéroports (SCA), Cambodia’s private airports operator, looks with satisfaction to the coming winter season. Traffic is recovering according to Nicolas Deviller, CEO of SCA. “Passenger traffic is growing again with a passenger increase of approximately 8 percent in Phom Penh and 26 percent in Siem Reap for the entire year 2010. Phnom Penh should be back to its level of 2008 with some 1.7 million passengers, while Siem Reap should reach again its traffic level of 2007 with some 1.5 million passengers,” explained Mr. Deviller during a press conference.

This winter, some 20 carriers regularly link Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports to the rest of the world. The winter timetable is seeing 16 additional frequencies per week added out of Phnom Penh, while Siem Reap benefits from 18 additional frequencies. Most of the additional frequencies come from Korea, Malaysia, and neighboring countries (Bangkok and Hanoi). On the domestic front, national carrier Cambodia Angkor Air (CAA) will add a daily frequency between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, bringing frequencies to four daily returns.

Phnom Penh’s major event, however, will be the return of Air France by next March with a direct service to Paris (via Bangkok). According to Nicolas Deviller, the return of France’s national carrier after a hiatus of 37 years is a sign of confidence into Cambodia’s potential, as there are few medium-sized airports in Asia which can claim to have an intercontinental flight.

“We must, however, be careful at the robustness of the recovery. It might not be as strong as expected as we still face many restrictions in air capacities such as a lack of aircraft for some airlines or restructuring issues,” added the SCA CEO. A typical example of a negative external factor is the lack of Japanese carriers flying regularly to Cambodia. Japan is Cambodia’s third largest tourism source market with almost 150,000 travelers in 2009. But despite this high number, Japan’s carriers are still not flying directly to the Kingdom.

“Japanese carriers are in a restructuring process and are rather downsizing than expanding their network,” said Mr. Deviller. The SCA CEO still predicts a huge growth in the future from Northeast Asian markets. “The potential is huge out of China, Korea, and Japan. We should also follow the evolution of the demand in India. There is obviously an enormous potential for Cambodia there,” told Mr. Deviller. For 2011, SCA estimates that passenger growth will reach respectively 10 percent in Phnom Penh and 13 percent in Siem Reap.

Both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports currently offer a total capacity of 4.5 million passengers a year, a capacity likely to be reached in 2013/2014. “We are now working on a masterplan to upgrade capacities at both airports. After the completion of our airport extension, Phnom Penh will be able to accommodate four million passengers a year and Siem Reap 3.5 million passengers a year,” explained Mr. Deviller. Work should start in early 2012.

Sihanoukville International Airport meanwhile remains an eyesore to SCA management. Upgraded to international standards for US$30 million in 2009, the small airport on the southern coast of Cambodia has been desperately looking to attract airlines since then. Despite both Ministry of Tourism and SCA pleas to integrate Sihanoukville into scheduled airline timetables, the airport has failed so far to attract carriers, including national airline CAA. Most airlines speak of a lack of potential, an explanation that Mr. Deviller rejects: “I am deeply convinced that there is a future for the coastal zone of Cambodia with its wonderful pristine beaches and islands. Studies show, for example, that from 800,000 tourists visiting Siem Reap, 50 percent of them would continue their holiday to a beach destination. However, they prefer to go to neighboring countries, as access to the coast is too time-consuming,” he told.

Sihanoukville welcomes a few charter flights every year, but Mr. Deviller would love to see regularly-scheduled flights from Phnom Penh and Siem Reap or even from Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok. “We did our part of the job, as we offer free access to the airport for a new entrant,” he added. Critics are to be heard more often against Cambodia Angkor Air. As the Kingdom’s national carrier, CAA should have the duty to pioneer domestic routes, even if unprofitable. However, the Vietnam Airlines-backed carrier seems to only shape its strategy on pure profitability considerations.

After over a year flying, CAA continues to only fly between Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, and Ho Chi Minh City. The airline is due to integrate in 2011 two new Airbus A321 and launch flights to China, Korea, and Japan. But Sihanoukville is still not on the airline’s radar, unless pressures mount up from the highest level of the Cambodian government. Maybe it would be the right time for the government to remember that it owns 51 percent of CAA's shares.

Cambodia apologizes for airport confusion

2010-10-12
The Associated Press

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Cambodian aviation authorites issued a vague apology Tuesday for confusion over flight disruptions, saying weather conditions did not force the closure of its two international airports as stated a day earlier.

"No flight disruption or weather-related delays (have) occurred. Any information stating differently is groundless," the civil aviation authority and the airports' operator said in a joint statement.

On Monday, a high-ranking civil aviation official, Him Sarun, announced that all flights were suspended at the airports in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap from 10 a.m. onward due to heavy rain and strong winds. He said pilots could not see the runways and the closures were enforced "for the sake of travelers' safety."

However, the airports never shut down Monday and flights took off and arrived mostly as scheduled.

It is unclear what prompted the confusion.

"The international airports in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap (were) operating as usual yesterday despite challenging weather conditions," the statement said.

It added that Cambodia's international airports are equipped with navigation and landing aid systems that comply with international standards and allow flights to operate safely in adverse weather conditions.

All-day rain flooded parts of capital Phnom Penh on Monday with up to 3.3 feet of water (1 meter).

The Ministry of Water Resource and Meteorology says the poor weather conditions started Sunday and would last until at least Wednesday.

Heavy rain, strong winds force cancellation of all flights in Cambodia

Monday, October 11, 2010
The Associated Press

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Cambodia has suspended all flights to its two international airports due to heavy rain and strong winds.

Civil aviation official Him Sarun says the suspension at the airports in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap started at 10 a.m. Monday (0300 GMT) and would remain in effect as long as the weather was bad. He says some 20 flights to and from other countries were cancelled. Domestic flights were also stopped.

Him Sarun said Monday: "We did it for the sake of travellers' safety." He says that pilots could not see the runway.

The Ministry of Water Resource and Meteorology says the poor weather conditions started Sunday and would last until at least Wednesday. All-day rain flooded parts of capital Phnom Penh as deep as 1 metre (3.3 feet).

Cambodia eyes new airport for Siem Reap

22/09/10
By Siva Govindasamy
SOURCE:Air Transport Intelligence news

Cambodia is looking to build a new airport near Siem Reap, the gateway to the temple ruins of Angkor that are the country's main tourist magnets.

A South Korean company is in talks with the Cambodian government on the project, according to local news reports. They are keen to be involved in the construction and operation of the proposed $1 billion facility, add the reports.

"They want to conduct a feasibility study of Cambodia's civil aviation sector," Long Chheng, deputy director at the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, is quoted as saying. "We're very welcoming to any investment in the country's aviation sector."

He adds that there would be further discussions before his department sends the proposal to the Council for the Development of Cambodia, which coordinates and approves infrastructure projects in the country.

The proposed airport would be located 60km from Siem Reap to minimise the damage from noise pollution to the increasingly fragile Angkor Wat complex, the main attraction in the area. It would be able to accommodate larger aircraft that could allow direct links to cities in Europe and the USA, add the newspapers.

Sihanouk International Airport on track for opening

Wednesday, 21 October 2009
eTravel Blackboard

Air traffic to Cambodia’s recently revamped Preah Sihanouk International Airport is on track to start from November, officials said last week.

“I went to check all the technical equipment last Friday” State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) Secretary of State Mao Havannal told the Phnom Penh Post on Tuesday.

“Everything is in place and complies with international standards” he said referring to the refurbishments completed by Societe Concessionnaire des Aeroports (SCA).

Mao Havannal said the launch of the airport would be presided over by Prime Minister Hun Sen and top officials from France including French Prime Minister Nicholas Sarkozy.

The launch will see national carrier Cambodia Angkor Air offer chartered services to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap from Sihanoukville.

Soy Sokhan, SSCA undersecretary of state in charge of CAA, said the airline was still considering the feasibility of establishing regular flights on those routes.

“Firstly, we need to complete a market survey looking at the number of tourists, and contact with travel agents who book passengers on cruises to get an idea of potential demand,” he said.

According to Mao Havannal, Siem Reap Airways may be unable to fly from the airport as it has not registered any planes in Cambodia, a requirement for domestic operators to receive an Air Operator Certificate (AOC).

“I don’t know for sure if Siem Reap Airways will be able to fly or not” said Mao Havannal.

“It depends on the airline because we have already confirmed with them that if they want to resume their operations, they need to register an airplane [in Cambodia].

“It already completely complies with SSCA requirements and has satisfied concerns over its operations.”

SCA will announce its flight schedule for Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanouk international airport on October 21.

India plans to invest in airport and cable car for Preah Vihear Temple [-An end to the dependence on Thailand's whims?]

Friday, May 9, 2008
The Mekong Times
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Hang Sot, director of the Preah Vihear National Authority (PVNA), indicated on Thursday that an Indian company wants to invest in an airport and an electric cable car system in the Preah Vihear Temple region which is a major tourist zone in the north of the country, along the Thai border.

In an interview, Professor Hang Sot indicated that India’s Skill Company, which has previously successfully invested in cable car in Vietnam, and it has completed a project feasibility study to find the location for the construction last month. Hang Sot said that the company plans to build an airport on a 2-km-by-5-km field, located 32 km from the temple, the road system for the cable car will be 2,400-meter long, located near the ancient stair steps, and the road will be enlarged from 8 to 10-meter wide.

Hang Sot said: “We don’t know as yet when the project will start or how much it will cost, but we hope that it will see the daylight if the results from the discussion between the company representatives and vice-prime minister Sok An are positive.

According to an anonymous official close to this investment plan, the Skill Company plans to spend $600 million to develop the temple area. Regarding this investment, Ho Vandy, director of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents, welcomed the project. “We support this development plan, but we must know how this development will affect our temple. We welcome it if this plan really exists,” Ho Vandy said.

Currently, there is no strong development to attract tourists to come and visit this temple located near the Thai border, due to a lack of proper infrastructure in this region. Regarding this latter issue, Hang Sot said: “Right now, we receive only 300 to 400 visitors per day who come to visit Preah Vihear Temple, and the majority of them come from Thailand. However, in the future, i.e. after the construction of the infrastructure, we hope that this region will attract a large number of tourists, and that the majority of them will come from inside Cambodia.”

Hang Sot added: “I trust that the number of tourists will increase by six folds in Preah Vihear, at the end of the development plan, in particular after the construction of road infrastructure.”

Cambodian airports vow to ramp up security

Mar 15, 2007
DPA

Phnom Penh - Two international Cambodian airports are planning to buy anti-terrorism equipment to upgrade security, local media said Thursday.

The English-language Cambodia Daily quoted communications manager for Societe Concessionaire de l'Aeroport (SCA), Khek Norinda, as saying Phnom Penh and Siem Reap international airports 'tentatively plans to buy specialized equipment that can detect whether people are carrying drugs or explosives, as well as more equipment to better detect fake passports.'

SCA is the French-owned company managing both airports.

The newspaper also quoted government civil aviation officials as saying a three-month assessment of Cambodian airport security has been requested by the government from a Japanese company specializing in new technology, New Media Development Association of Japan.