Kampot Airport

The primary reason for its closure was the Cambodian Civil War (1970-1975), which made provincial air travel unsafe and unsustainable. Following the Khmer Rouge victory in 1975, the country's infrastructure, including regional airports, was systematically dismantled or left to decay. The regime had no use for civilian air transport, and the site fell into complete disrepair.

The site of the original Kampot Airport has been completely redeveloped and is no longer recognizable as an airfield. The former runway has been paved and repurposed into a wide, major boulevard that is now an integral part of Kampot's urban road network. The surrounding land has been developed with commercial buildings, shophouses, and residential properties. There are no physical remnants of the airport terminal or aviation facilities.

Constructed during the Sangkum Reastr Niyum era (1953-1970) under Prince Norodom Sihanouk, Kampot Airport was part of a national plan to develop infrastructure and promote tourism. It served as a vital domestic link, connecting the capital, Phnom Penh, with the popular coastal destinations of Kampot and Kep. The national airline, Royal Air Cambodge, operated flights using smaller aircraft, likely DC-3s, facilitating travel for tourists, government officials, and business people. It was a symbol of Cambodia's post-independence modernization before the country descended into war.

There are zero prospects for reopening the original airport, as its location has been fully absorbed by urban development. However, a completely new, international-standard airport is currently under construction in a different location, approximately 10km northwest of Kampot town in Teuk Chhou district. This new project, officially named the 'Kampot International Airport' (or sometimes referred to as Bokor Airport), is a significant private investment aimed at boosting tourism and economic growth in the coastal region. Construction began in 2019, and upon completion, it will serve as the new air gateway for Kampot and Kep, capable of handling larger aircraft than the old airport ever could.