The Government has plans to develop the Veal Bek Chan Airport in Battambang city to a 4C category.
Soy Sokhan, Secretary of State of the Secretariat of Civil Aviation, and Sok Lou, Battambang Provincial Governor, chaired a working group meeting on the possibility of restoration and development of Battambang Airport on Friday.
Sokhan said that the airport would be upgraded from the quality of 3C to 4C, providing convenience for operating big flights to airlines.
“After the study, we found some problems that need to be solved. The runway needs to be expanded and repaired because it had not been used for many years now,” he said.
Lou expressed his support for the development of this airport into 4C. He said it would attract foreign and domestic tourists to Battambang. “It will also help develop Battambang in the near future,” Lou said.
Battambang Airport, which was opened in 1968 on a land area of nearly 127 hectares, started with a Phnom Penh-Battambang flight. However, due to the war in the country between 1975 and 1979, the airport was completely shut down.
After the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime, the airport was reopened, but the military only used it. Later, in 1991, the airport was completely closed.
The government has announced an investment of $3.5 billion to build, expand and renovate all Cambodian airports under the aviation development programme from 2015 to 2023 as part of the Open Sky policy. It was also part of the government’s vision to accelerate domestic transportation and link Cambodia to the international trade hubs.
Other airports under this programme include Koh Kong, Poipet city, and the new Mondulkiri airport, which remains in the study process while social, economic, and environmental impacts are being reviewed.
Meanwhile, Soeum Bunrith, Deputy Governor of Battambang province, told Khmer Times, “During the Sangkum Reastr Niyum era, the Battambang Airport was under the 3C category, which has the capacity for handling flights that carry about 70 passengers. Now, the Royal Government plans to convert the airport into the 4C category. This category is similar to the one at the Siem Reap International Airport and the flights can accommodate around 100 passengers, serving both domestic and international passengers and regions in the future.
“The Battambang airport development will gather more pace when the Covid-19 situation is under control. The government can then focus more attention on various projects, including the development of the Battambang airport.”
This article was first published in Khmer Times. All contents and images are copyright to their respective owners and sources.
