Dara Sakor International Airport Launches Domestic Charter Flights in Koh Kong, Cambodia
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Phnom Penh, Dec 26 (NationPress) The recently inaugurated Dara Sakor International Airport in the southwest region of Cambodia's Koh Kong province commenced operations for domestic charter flights on Thursday.
An ATR72-turboprop aircraft took off from Phnom Penh International Airport and successfully landed at the new airport, celebrated with a traditional water salute, marking the inaugural air travel to the coastal province of Koh Kong.
Mao Havannall, the minister overseeing Cambodia's State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA), praised the Coastal Airport Investment Co., Ltd. (CAI) for their investment in this project, emphasizing that it reflects the confidence of investors in Cambodia's peace, political stability, and business potential.
He remarked, "This marks a significant milestone in the advancement of the civil aviation sector in Cambodia," during his address at the welcoming ceremony for the first domestic charter flight to the airport, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The minister also noted that the new airport is set to play a crucial role in enhancing the economic, tourism, and industrial sectors in Koh Kong province specifically and in Cambodia broadly.
SSCA's Undersecretary of State and spokesperson, Sinn Chanserey Vutha, revealed last week that the airport occupies an area of 218 hectares in its initial phase, with an investment of approximately 200 million US dollars by CAI.
Located within the districts of Kiri Sakor and Botum Sakor, the airport is designed to accommodate seven million passengers annually in the medium term, with plans to expand its capacity to 20 million passengers per year from 2030 to 2050.
The spokesperson confirmed that the airport will also welcome international charter flights when there is sufficient demand.
The Dara Sakor International Airport is now the kingdom's fourth operational airport, joining the ranks of the existing Phnom Penh International Airport, Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, and Sihanouk International Airport.
