There have been huge crowds around departures at PPIA for as long as I can remember. I've been responsible for at least part of that a few times. Families come in droves because they know they might not see the departing member again for a long time, if ever. The airport is very underused at the moment so it seems people are able to spread out more. The main issue seems to be that they are making a mess and leaving trash everywhere.

It’s a modern international airport, run in a very provincial way at times. Imagine what will happen if they don’t get a grip on things when the new airports open up. Assuming they have sufficient passenger traffic to make it look like they were needed.

On one of my recent departures from Phnom Penh, I ran over someone’s foot with my case. I suggested that their foot may be better off somewhere else (I was thinking vertically, beneath them, rather than horizontally in front.). Either way, not in my way.

I actually don’t get the fascination of hanging around once they’ve dropped off whomever. I hate airports. However, in the spirit of research and cultural understanding, I asked Mrs.Freightdog. Apparently, she’s asked the same thing of folks there. There’s actually some rational, reasonable explanations to much of this-

There’s various elements of the family from different locations, all arriving at the airport at different times, to say goodbye. Given Cambodian punctuality and a check in time some two hours prior to departure- Let’s all meet and have a picnic.
There’s elements of the family from everywhere all meeting at convenient times from everywhere to welcome someone back. Let’s all have a picnic. The extra loitering time is something of a safeguard against being late, I guess.
This says to me that the thing missing is more appropriate facilities to accommodate a social gathering for what may be a major event for many Cambodians, but which we’ve come to take for granted. Picnic areas, trash cans, and maybe a couple of jolly uniforms to encourage people to be tidy?
Let’s face it, I can leave home with the entire family crammed in a car, for a drive to Kep, and yet 2 hours down the road we’re stopping for food. That’s just a relatively short road journey, with actual good food promised in only a couple more hours.

In the developed west, what with all the extra security due to terrorist threats, the money grabbing efforts of the airports charging exorbitant fees for drop off, and the generally oppressive feel to some airports; gone are the days of it being a day out. Airports used to have viewing galleries to watch departures and arrivals, and saying good bye used to happen inside the terminal.

I still hate airports, and actively discourage the family from going with me when I leave. I usually fail, though, as 15 minutes before I walk out the door, it’s blatantly obvious that she’s decided we’re all going, for a final farewell in front of the terminal, a few extra hugs, and then I proceed to run over some toes on my way inside. SWMBO, however, doesn’t hang about for a picnic. No loitering.
The last few arrivals in PP for me were during COVID, so being met by enthusiast sprogs hoping to discover presents stopped happening.

As to being socially responsible? Why would the airport be any different when trash is randomly dumped by the roadside, out of car windows, or dropped on the ground countrywide. That’s a countrywide, and increasingly worldwide issue.

Freightdog wrote: ↑Sun Apr 24, 2022 10:46 pm
There’s various elements of the family from different locations, all arriving at the airport at different times, to say goodbye. Given Cambodian punctuality and a check in time some two hours prior to departure- Let’s all meet and have a picnic.

I like the idea of a public picnic area outside of the airport..with foodstalls and all..

Anchor Moy wrote: ↑Mon Apr 25, 2022 12:57 am Doesn't everyone take a six-pack to the airport when leaving or seeing someone off ?

No, that's very coarse behavior.