Cambodia's capital airport hits 3 mln passenger mark

The Phnom Penh International Airport achieved a new milestone on Thursday by breaking the 3 million passenger mark a year for the first time in its history, according to a statement from the Cambodia Airports.

The 3 millionth passenger was Cambodian woman Kong Naleap, who flew back home from China's Hong Kong on a flight operated by Dragonair, the statement said.

To celebrate the event, the airport staged a series of special features upon the arrival of the flight. One of them was a water cannon salute when the aircraft headed to its parking lot.

Naleap marveled at the particular souvenir given to her, the statement said.

The 3 million passenger figure is obtained by tallying all international and domestic passengers arriving at and departing from the airport since the beginning of 2015.

"Today's achievement reflects the airport's passenger traffic momentum which should report a nearly 16 percent growth on a year-on-year basis," it said.

Chloe Lapeyre, Phnom Penh International Airport general manager, said: "We have definitely reached a new dimension at the airport with this significant milestone. The on-going extension works have been planned to address future passenger growth and aim at overhauling the facilities."

Cambodia Airports launched in early 2013 a terminal extension program to double the capacity of the airport's platform to over 5 million passengers, the statement said. The phase one of the investment is slated for completion by March 2016. Enditem