The Draft National Policy on Air Transport 2025-2035, a strategic plan aimed at significantly bolstering Cambodia’s air transport sector, has reached the final stages of review.
The draft has been finalized by an inter-ministerial committee at the Council of the Office of Ministers and is on the agenda for today’s cabinet meeting.
The national policy is designed to develop air transport in Cambodia in an efficient, sustainable and resilient manner through policies to strengthen and expand air connectivity locally, regionally and globally, increase the benefits of air passenger and cargo transport, and create competitive business opportunities.
“This drafting policy is designed to propel Cambodia towards achieving 25 million air passengers and 205,000 tonnes of air cargo transport,” read the agenda unveiled yesterday.
The State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) has released information that they are targeting to increase air passenger traffic to 7.5 million people in 2025, and to transport 80,000 tonnes of goods.
The State Secretariat of Civil Aviation is implementing economic diversification and increasing competitiveness, as well as promoting connectivity and increasing the efficiency of transport and logistics, said Mao Havannall, Minister in Charge of the SSCA.
SSCA sets its vision for the continued development of Cambodia’s civil aviation sector in a resilient and sustainable manner that can ensure security, safety, efficiency, and the environment, he said.
Last year, the three international airports including the Phnom Penh International Airport, Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, and Sihanoukville International Airport handled a combined 6.24 million air passengers, a year-on-year increase of 22 percent, SSCA report showed.
The international airports currently connect international flights to 12 countries with a total of 34 destinations or capitals/cities in the region and the world, by 31 national and international airlines.
New flights have been announced this year connecting international destinations to Cambodia, including Turkish Airlines from Istanbul to Phnom Penh, Etihad Airways from Abu Dhabi to Phnom Penh, and Emirates Airlines from Dubai to Siem Reap.
Also, SSCA is working on ensuring that the Techo International Airport is ready for operation in July of this year.
