The Chinese-invested Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, a landmark project of the Belt and Road Initiative, commenced operations on Monday.

The first flight was welcomed with a water salute ceremony at the airport at 9:00 a.m.

Covering an area of 700 hectares, the airport is located about 40 km from the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park and 51 km from Siem Reap province.

The airport is a 4E-level international airport and can accommodate the landing of large wide-body aircraft, providing support for the opening of intercontinental routes.

It can handle seven million air passengers and 10,000 tonnes of air cargo annually, while facilitating up to 65,800 flights per year, according to The Phnom Penh Post, a Cambodian newspaper.

The report added that these figures are projected to rise to 12 million passengers, 26,000 tonnes of cargo and 112,700 flights annually by 2040.

Sinn Chanserey Vutha, undersecretary of State and Spokesperson of Cambodia's State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, said in a previous interview that the project is a "fruit of good cooperation between Cambodia and China under the Belt and Road Initiative framework."

The investment in new road and airport infrastructure could rejuvenate the tourism sector by the end of the year, said the Phnom Penh Post, citing Khieu Thy, president of the Khmer Angkor Tourist Guide Association.

While contributing to the development of the local economy and tourism, it will also protect the historical relics. 

All flights at the airport will take off or land from the opposite direction of the Angkor Archaeological Park, eliminating the adverse impact of vibrations and noise caused by aircrafts.