Battambang Airport: The Park with a Runway

Battambang Airport: The Park with a Runway

Battambang Airport: The Park with a Runway From Historic Airstrip to Community Hub... and Back Again? If you tell someone you are going to the airport in Battambang, they won't ask "Where are you flying?" They will ask, "Are you going for a run?" For decades, this defunct airfield has served as the most unique public park in Cambodia. A Journey Through Time 1968: Grand Opening Opened during the "Golden Age" of Cambodia, it was a busy domestic hub connecting the rice-bowl of the west to Phnom Penh. 1975 - 1990s: Silence Operations ceased during the war. The airfield saw sporadic military use but eventually fell silent, with the last commercial flight landing decades ago. Present Day: The People's Park With no planes to dodge, the 1,600-meter runway became a favorite spot for joggers, cyclists, and families enjoying the open space. What Happens on the Runway? Visit at 5:00 PM, and the tarmac is alive! It is a surreal experience to walk down the centerline of a…