(Kandal): Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet firmly denied rumours that the Phnom Penh International Airport land will be sold to the private sector, stressing that the government has no such plans.

Speaking on Friday (May 16) at the 80th founding anniversary of the Cambodian National Police, the premier clarified that the airport land will be transferred to the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) for management and preservation.

“The airport must be preserved for its historical value, used for public benefit, and remain state property,” he said.

Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet explained that while the government signed a concession agreement in 1995 allowing Société Concessionnaire des Aéroports (SCA) to operate the airport, ownership and management have always remained under the SSCA.

“There has been a lot of talk recently about the airport being sold,” the premier noted. “Some claim it was sold 15 years ago. But back then, we hadn’t even planned a new airport. If such a document exists, show it to me.”

Samdech Thipadei underlined that only two people—the former Prime Minister, Samdech Techo, and himself—hold the authority to approve such a sale, and neither has done so.

“I urge those spreading these rumours to stop. There has never been, past or present, any policy to sell Pochentong Airport,” he stated.

Phnom Penh International Airport, located on over 400 hectares along Russian Federation Boulevard in Posenchey District, is scheduled to cease operations in July 2025. Its closure has sparked speculation and unfounded claims about the land’s future use.
=FRESH NEWS