Cambodia & Transports: Sihanoukville International Airport’s environmental commitment gains new recognition

The airport reaches Level 3 accreditation “Optimization” from the Airports Council International (ACI). Level 3 means that the decarbonization of airport activities extends to commercial partners, airlines, authorities, and users.

The two international airports managed by Cambodia Airports, a subsidiary of VINCI Airports, continue their environmental march onward. Under the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA), introduced in 2009 on the initiative of the Airports Council International Europe (ACI EU), Sihanouk International Airport upgrades to Level 3 certification of a program aiming at reducing greenhouse gas emissions while engaging stakeholders to curb their own emissions.

Earlier this year, Phnom Penh International Airport, also powered by VINCI Airports, attained ACA Level 3. The ACA program requires the monitoring of the airport carbon footprint and the implementation of actions to reduce the footprint over the years. To achieve the Level 3 milestone, the airport has invested heavily and deployed multi-pronged initiatives, including:

• Commissioning efficient chiller systems for the central air conditioning

• Replacing all light sources with LED technologies

• Putting in place automatic systems to reduce and optimize the energy consumptions in the main buildings

• Awareness campaigns across the airport community encouraging specific behaviors towards carbon management and reduction

Additionally, and as part of the airport’s Stakeholder Engagement Program, it has included third parties, such as restaurants, fuel suppliers, airliners, into the initiative, extending its benefits to the entire airport community and beyond.

The independently verified global carbon management certification program has 7 stages of certification: Mapping, Reduction, Optimization, Neutrality, Transformation, Transition, and Level 5, which accredits airports that reach a net zero balance in their direct emissions (Scope 1 and Scope 2) and set a roadmap to reach Net Zero emissions on its Scope 3 by year 2050. In December 2023, ACI launched this new accreditation Level 5, awarded at this point to only 10 airports worldwide, among which 4 airports are developed and operated by VINCI Airports, the parent company of Cambodia Airports.

Cyril GIROT, CEO of Cambodia Airports, said:

“We are continuing our commitment onward with respect to fighting climate change, intensifying our efforts in every possible way to substantiate our vision for Positive Mobility. Having our partners join concrete actions that we have implemented bodes well for our next accomplishments. I want to express my appreciation to them and to our personnel for their crucial contribution.”

About Cambodia Airports

Under a public-private partnership signed with the Royal Government of Cambodia in 1995, Cambodia Airports holds a 45-year concession for the development and management of Cambodia’s network of international airports serving the capital city of Phnom Penh and the port city and beach destination of Sihanoukville. The shareholders of Cambodia Airports are France’s VINCI Airports (70%) and Muhibbah Masteron Cambodia (30%), a Malaysian-Cambodian joint venture.