Siem Reap Airport: What To Expect When You Land

what is at siem reap airport

Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport is Cambodia's newest and biggest airport, located in the country's northwest. It opened in October 2023, replacing the old airport that was just 5km from town. The airport is 45km from Siem Reap's downtown, with an estimated travel time of 1 hour and 15 minutes. The airport's runway is capable of handling large commercial planes, including Boeing 747s and Airbus A350s. It served around 1.3 million passengers in its first year, and future expansion plans aim to increase its capacity to 12 million passengers per year by 2030. Transport options to and from the airport include shuttle buses, tuk-tuks, private taxis, and minivans, with prices ranging from $8 to $45.

Characteristics Values
Location Siem Reap province, Cambodia
Year of Opening 2023
Distance from Downtown Siem Reap 45km
Transport Options Shuttle bus, tuk-tuk, private taxi, shared minivan, private transfer
Shuttle Bus Cost $8-$9 one-way
Tuk-tuk Cost $15-$17.50
Private Taxi Cost $25-$35
Shared Minivan Cost $9-$12 per person
Private Minivan Cost $35-$45
Runway Capability Narrow-body aircraft (Boeing 737, Airbus A320), wide-body aircraft (Boeing 747, 777, 787, Airbus A330, A350)
Passenger Capacity (current) 7 million per year
Passenger Capacity (future) 12 million per year by 2030, over 20 million per year by 2050

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Transport options to and from the airport

Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport is Cambodia's newest and biggest airport, located in the country's northwest. The airport is around 45km from downtown Siem Reap, with an estimated travel time of 50 minutes to one hour and 15 minutes by car.

Shuttle Bus

The airport shuttle bus costs $8 one-way and runs nine times a day from 9:30 am to 10 pm. It drops passengers off at the CDF Angkor Duty-Free Store in downtown Siem Reap. There is also a shuttle service provided by Cambodia Post for the same price, which drops off at the Siem Reap Post Office.

Private Taxi

A private taxi to and from the airport costs between $25 and $35 and takes around 45 minutes. This is a popular option for couples and small groups.

Shared Minivan

A shared minivan costs between $9 and $12 per person and takes you directly to your hotel. This option may involve multiple stops at different hotels. For groups of five or more people, a private minivan can be booked for $35 to $45.

Tuk-Tuk

A traditional Cambodian tuk-tuk costs between $15 and $17.50 from the airport but takes over an hour. This option may be better suited for in-town travel rather than the longer airport journey.

Hotel Airport Pickup

Some hotels in Siem Reap offer their own airport pickup services, which typically cost between $40 and $70. This option may be more suitable for luxury travellers or those visiting during peak season.

It is important to note that the airport is relatively new, and transport options may change over time. It is always a good idea to check for updated information and plan your transport accordingly.

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The old airport

The old Siem Reap airport was located just 5km from the town. It was replaced by the new Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport in October 2023. The new airport is located 45km from downtown Siem Reap, and it can be accessed via the newly constructed "Angkor Highway", which has reduced travel time considerably. The new airport was constructed to accommodate larger airplanes for international travellers, particularly tourists from America and Europe, and to facilitate more domestic and international flights to meet the expected growth in tourism numbers.

The new Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport is the first overseas international airport constructed under a "Build-Operate-Transfer" model by Chinese enterprises and is operated by the Yunnan Aviation Industry Investment Group. It is designated a "4E airport", meaning it can accommodate larger commercial planes used on global long-haul routes. The airport's design is inspired by traditional Cambodian architecture.

The new airport has been criticised for being far from the city and feeling like a “ghost airport" due to low passenger numbers in its first year. However, it is part of the Cambodian government's plan to boost luxury tourism in the country and improve transport infrastructure.

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The new airport

The Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport is Cambodia's newest and biggest airport. Construction began in 2020, with the airport design inspired by traditional Cambodian architecture. It is located in the country's northwest and is China-funded. The airport is 45km from Siem Reap's downtown, with a travel time of around 1 hour and 15 minutes. The new location was chosen to accommodate larger aircraft for international travellers, particularly from America and Europe, and to facilitate more domestic and international flights. The airport is also intended to reduce the impact of vibrations and air pollution on the Angkor Archaeological Park and Siem Reap town.

The airport is accessible via the newly constructed "Angkor Highway", which has reduced travel time. There are various transport options to get to and from the airport, including shuttle buses, private taxis, tuk-tuks, and minivans. The cheapest option is the shuttle bus, which costs $8-$9 and takes about an hour. Private taxis cost $25-$35 and take around 45 minutes to an hour. Tuk-tuks are also available and cost $15-$17.50, but the journey takes over an hour. For larger groups, a minivan can be booked for $30-$40.

The airport currently serves a limited number of destinations, but there are plans for expansion. The runway is capable of handling wide-body aircraft, such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A350. Future expansion plans include increasing the airport's capacity to 12 million passengers per year by 2030, with further expansion by 2050 expected to increase capacity to over 20 million passengers per year.

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The Angkor Highway

The new airport is located 45 kilometres from downtown Siem Reap, as opposed to the previous airport which was only 5 kilometres away. The new location was chosen to accommodate larger airplanes for international travellers, facilitate more domestic and international flights, minimise the impact of vibrations and air pollution on the Angkor Archaeological Park and the town of Siem Reap, and provide space for the expanding city of Siem Reap.

The new Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport is Cambodia's newest and biggest airport, constructed under a "Build-Operate-Transfer" model by Chinese enterprises. It is designated a "4E airport", meaning it can accommodate larger commercial planes, including those used on global long-haul routes. The airport is expected to handle 7 million passengers yearly and has a runway capable of handling wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A350. Future expansion plans include increasing the airport's capacity to 12 million passengers per year by 2030 and over 20 million passengers per year by 2050.

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The airport's runway capabilities

Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport is Cambodia's newest and biggest airport, located in the country's northwest. It is the first overseas international airport to be constructed under a "Build-Operate-Transfer" model by Chinese enterprises and is operated and managed by the Yunnan Aviation Industry Investment Group. The airport is designated a "4E airport", meaning it can accommodate larger commercial planes, including many of those used on global long-haul routes. The airport's runway is capable of handling both narrow-body aircraft, such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320, and wide-body aircraft, such as the Boeing 747, 777, and 787, as well as the Airbus A330 and A350.

The new airport was built to replace the old one, which was just 5 km from the town. The new location, about 45 km from downtown Siem Reap, was chosen to allow long-haul direct flights with larger airplanes to accommodate international travellers, particularly tourists from America and Europe. It also aims to facilitate more domestic and international flights to meet the expected growth in tourism numbers. The airport currently serves a limited number of destinations, but there are rumours of potential direct flights to and from India and an agreement with Qatar Airways, which could open up new routes.

The airport has a capacity of 7 million passengers yearly and is expected to expand further. Future expansion plans aim to increase the airport's capacity to 12 million passengers per year by 2030, with a third phase planned for completion by 2050, which will increase the total capacity to over 20 million passengers per year. The airport is accessible via the newly constructed "Angkor Highway", which reduces travel time considerably. However, the total travel time between Siem Reap town and the airport is still estimated at 1 hour and 15 minutes.

The new Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport has received mixed reactions. While it boasts impressive runway capabilities and a grand vision for booming luxury tourism, it has been described as a "ghost airport" due to low passenger numbers in its first year, serving only about 1.3 million passengers. This has led to questions about whether the airport is too big for a market that hasn't caught up yet. Despite this, the airport is planned to be connected with an airport expressway directly from the city, further enhancing its accessibility.

Frequently asked questions

Siem Reap town is approximately 45km from the airport, with an estimated travel time of 1 hour and 15 minutes.

The cheapest way to get from the airport to Siem Reap town is by shuttle bus, which costs $8-$9 per person. The official airport shuttle costs $8 one-way and $15 return. A private taxi costs $25-$35 and takes about 45 minutes. A traditional Cambodian tuk-tuk costs $15-$17.50 but takes over an hour.

Siem Reap is home to the famous Angkor Wat temple complex. The town offers various tours, including sunrise and sunset tours of Angkor Wat, floating village tours, and guided tours of temples and waterfalls.

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