Phnom penh: Techo International Airport (TIA), a 4F-level international airport, began its official operations on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone for Cambodia’s aviation sector. The inauguration was celebrated with the arrival of the first commercial flight operated by Air Cambodia, which was greeted with a traditional water salute.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Has Chhivhun, a 27-year-old Cambodian passenger from Australia, expressed immense pride in the state-of-the-art airport. “It’s really beautiful and huge, depicting the identity of Cambodia,” she said while arriving from Melbourne. Chhivhun believes that the new airport will serve as a major gateway for international tourists to Cambodia, enhancing the country’s tourism sector. “It will play a crucial role in enhancing Cambodia’s connectivity for travel, tourism, trade, and investment,” she added.
The airport, invested in by Cambodia Airport Investment Co., Ltd, was developed at a cost of 1.5 billion U.S. dollars over an area of 2,600 hectares in southern Kandal and Takeo provinces, about 20 km from Phnom Penh. Construction began in 2020, with the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) serving as the contractor.
Swiss passenger Sophia Bader, visiting Cambodia for the first time, was amazed by the airport’s scale and modernity. Another Swiss visitor, Madeleine Gentinetta, praised the hospitality and services provided by the airport, describing the water salute for their airplane as “amazing.”
In a social media post, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet stated that the official launch of Techo International Airport would further extend Cambodia’s global connections. “The aviation sector is one of many ways to connect tourists, businesses, political networks, and multi-purpose missions,” he said. The Prime Minister emphasized Cambodia’s efforts to expand and upgrade its international airports to meet growing travel demand and enhance connectivity for travelers.
Mao Havannall, minister in charge of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA), noted that the Techo International Airport, with its dual-4-kilometer runway, can accommodate the world’s largest aircraft, including the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747. The airport is designed to handle approximately 13 million passengers annually in its first phase.
With the opening of Techo International Airport, the old Phnom Penh International Airport was completely closed at midnight on September 9, 2025, with all commercial flights of passengers and cargo transferred to TIA, according to the SSCA.