Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Capital’s airport records 28% cargo rise

Capital’s airport records 28% cargo rise

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Workers transport a shipment at Phnom Penh International Airport in 2019. Hong Menea

Capital’s airport records 28% cargo rise

Phnom Penh International Airport handled 55,000 tonnes of air freight in 2021, surging by about 28 per cent from a year earlier, according to a State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) report.

SSCA spokesman Sin Chansereyvutha told The Post on February 9 that the air freight business has returned to health, “owing to the rise in the cost of transporting goods by water or land, with prices almost the same as air freight”.

With shorter delivery times “investors are turning to air transport, especially for expensive items”, he said.

He noted that the capital’s airport has a cargo warehouse and accounts for the majority of air freight handled in the Kingdom, with Sihanouk International Airport making up the rest.

He also confirmed that a similar warehouse was planned for Preah Sihanouk province’s airport – located some 20km east of Sihanoukville in Thma Thom village, Ream commune, Prey Nop district.

Cambodia Logistics Association (CLA) president Sin Chanthy said air transport had dropped by more than 90 per cent in 2020, when Covid-19 stuck.

However, air transport gradually resumed from mid-2021, driven by the Covid-19 vaccine rollout and reopening of the country, with the numbers of cargo flights notably taking off during the peak season when the pressure was on to move goods quickly, he said.

“This growth has climbed from end-2021 – as of the beginning of 2022 – and the trend will persist, albeit at a relatively sluggish pace, marking a positive for the sector.

“Once the domestic coronavirus spread is brought under control, not only will transport by air – currently showing positive signals – chug along smoothly and at a faster pace, the same will apply to land and waterway routes,” Chanthy said.

MOST VIEWED

  • 12th Cambodia int’l film festival to see return of Hollywood star

    Phnom Penh is set to come alive with the magic of cinema as the highly anticipated 12th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) takes centre stage. Boasting an impressive line-up of 188 films from 23 countries, including captivating shorts, feature films, documentaries and animation, the festival promises an

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Struggling Battambang artist dreams of staging full-scale gallery exhibition

    Leav Kimchhoth, a 55-year-old artist from Battambang province, is a familiar face to locals and tourists alike on the streets of the riverside in Phnom Penh. The one-armed painter and illustrator often hawks his work near the night market on weekends and public holidays. He

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia

    A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication

  • New Law on Taxation comes into effect

    Cambodia has enacted the eagerly-awaited new Law on Taxation, which aims to improve the national tax regime’s compliance with present and future international standards and economic conditions; encourage accountability, effectiveness and transparency in the collection process; and promote investment in the Kingdom. King Norodom