Cambodia Opens New $1.5 Billion International Airport Near Angkor Wat
Cambodia's new $1.5 billion Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport opened with direct routes to 28 Asian destinations, targeting 8 million tourists by 2027.
Privately Funded Airport Aims to Boost Tourism Beyond Pre-Pandemic Levels
Cambodia inaugurated the Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport on November 25, 2025, a $1.5 billion facility built by a consortium led by China's Yunnan Investment Group. The airport, located 51 kilometers east of the Angkor Wat temple complex, features a 3,600-meter runway capable of handling wide-body aircraft and a terminal designed to process 7 million passengers annually.
Prime Minister Hun Manet presided over the opening ceremony attended by diplomats from 30 countries. "This airport is the gateway to Cambodia's cultural heritage and a catalyst for economic development in the northwest provinces," Hun Manet said. The airport replaces the aging Siem Reap International Airport, which handled 2.8 million passengers in 2024.
Operational Capacity
The initial phase includes 20 aircraft parking stands, two terminal buildings, and a cargo facility. Direct routes have been announced by Cambodia Angkor Air, AirAsia, Vietnam Airlines, Korean Air, and China Southern, connecting Siem Reap to 28 destinations across Asia. Low-cost carrier Spring Airlines will operate daily flights from Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu.
The Airports Council International ranked the terminal design among the top five in Southeast Asia for passenger flow efficiency. Automated immigration kiosks and a biometric entry system, developed by NEC Corporation, are expected to reduce average clearance times from 12 minutes to under 3 minutes.
Tourism Outlook
Cambodia received 5.3 million international tourists in the first 10 months of 2025, approaching the 2019 pre-pandemic peak of 6.6 million. The Ministry of Tourism projected the new airport would help attract 8 million visitors by 2027, with Siem Reap province capturing 45% of the total.
Angkor Wat ticket revenue reached $108 million in fiscal year 2025, a 22% increase from 2024. The Apsara National Authority, which manages the temple complex, announced new visitor management measures including timed entry slots and a daily cap of 15,000 visitors to reduce congestion at the main temple.
Debt and Governance Questions
The airport was financed through a 55-year build-operate-transfer concession, with the Yunnan Investment Group holding a 90% stake. Opposition voices and some international observers raised concerns about Cambodia's growing infrastructure debt to Chinese entities, which the World Bank estimated at $10.2 billion or 34% of GDP.
The old Siem Reap airport will be converted into a mixed-use development including a convention center and international school, according to the Council for the Development of Cambodia.
