Kratie Airport

The closure was a direct result of the Khmer Rouge victory in 1975. The regime dismantled the existing state infrastructure, including the network of provincial military airfields established by the previous government (the Khmer Republic). The airfield was primarily a military asset, and with the collapse of the military it served, it fell into disuse and was never reactivated for its original purpose. Post-conflict, there was no economic or logistical need to restore this specific site.

The site of the former Kratie Airport is no longer an airfield and is completely unrecognizable as such. The land has been fully redeveloped for urban expansion. The former runway's path is now a major local road, lined with residential houses, shops, and other buildings. Satellite imagery clearly shows a dense urban grid built directly over the former airport grounds, making any future aviation use of this specific site impossible.

Kratie Airport was a strategically important provincial airfield during the Cambodian Civil War (1970-1975). It served as a vital link for the Force Aérienne Khmère (FAK), the air force of the Khmer Republic. Its primary operations included:

- **Logistical Support:** Transporting troops, ammunition, and supplies to the government garrison in Kratie, especially when land routes like National Road 7 were contested or cut off by Khmer Rouge forces.
- **Medical Evacuation (Medevac):** Airlifting wounded soldiers and civilians from the conflict zone back to larger hospitals in Phnom Penh.
- **Air Support:** It likely served as a forward operating base for light attack and observation aircraft, such as the T-28 Trojan and Cessna O-1 Bird Dog, which conducted reconnaissance and close air support missions against enemy positions in the surrounding region.

The airfield was essential for maintaining the central government's presence in this key northeastern province during the war.

There are **no plans to reopen the original Kratie Airport** due to its redevelopment. However, there are long-standing plans to build a **new airport** in Kratie province to boost tourism and economic development.

- **Project:** A new domestic airport (proposed ICAO code: VDKT) is planned to serve the province, primarily to facilitate tourist access to see the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River.
- **Location:** The proposed site for the new airport is not at the old location, but in the Prek Prasab district, about 35 km north of Kratie town.
- **Status:** The project has been in various stages of planning and feasibility studies since approximately 2017, with the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) of Cambodia overseeing the plans. While there has been reported interest from investors, including Chinese firms, a definitive construction timeline has not been established. The project remains a future prospect pending final approvals and investment.