Cambodia on Tuesday opened Techo International Airport, a new three-runway facility about 20 kilometers (12 miles) outside Phnom Penh, marking a major upgrade intended to boost the country’s tourism and aviation capacity.
An Air Cambodia flight from China was greeted with a traditional water salute as it taxied to the terminal, and officials and passengers lauded the inauguration of the $2 billion project. Former Prime Minister Hun Sen called the opening “a major step for Cambodia’s aviation and economy” on social media, while one early passenger, Briton David Weare, said he felt it was “a great honor to be one of the first passengers to use the airport.”
The new airport replaces the nearly 70-year-old Phnom Penh International Airport, which had a single runway. Phnom Penh’s older airport handled about 4.75 million passengers in 2024. Techo International is initially expected to accommodate 13 million passengers a year, with plans to expand capacity to 30 million after 2030 and up to 50 million by 2050, Cambodian civil aviation officials said.
Designed by Britain’s Foster + Partners and built by China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Group Co. Ltd., the project was completed as a joint venture between the Cambodian government and the Overseas Cambodian Investment Corp. Officials said the initial $1.5 billion estimate rose to $2 billion by the time of inauguration, according to Sinn Chanserey Vutha, a spokesperson for Cambodia’s civil aviation authority.
The opening had been scheduled for July but was delayed by a technical issue, authorities said. Prime Minister Hun Manet, who succeeded his father Hun Sen in 2023, said the older Phnom Penh airport will continue to be maintained, with the runway kept available for military use and as an emergency backup.
Techo International follows the 2023 inauguration of the Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport near the Angkor Wat complex, part of a broader push by Cambodia to capitalize on tourism. In 2024, Cambodia received about 6.7 million international visitors, a 23% increase from 2023, government figures show.
Analysts and officials say expanded airport capacity is aimed at sustaining tourism growth and accommodating increasing air traffic, particularly from regional hubs and China. The Siem Reap airport was financed by China; Techo International’s financing and construction ties to Chinese firms underscore continued Chinese involvement in Cambodia’s infrastructure development.
The country’s efforts to attract visitors come amid regional tensions that could affect tourism flows. Earlier this year, armed clashes along the Cambodia-Thailand border left at least 41 soldiers and civilians dead before a shaky truce was reached on July 28, underscoring security risks that could complicate tourism and transport plans.
Officials have framed the new airport as part of long-term economic development and modernization. Construction and facility upgrades are expected to create jobs and improve connectivity for Cambodia’s capital, though officials did not provide a detailed schedule for phased capacity increases beyond the initial projections.
At the inauguration, government and industry representatives emphasized the airport’s role in handling larger aircraft and increasing international routes. Cambodian authorities said they will continue to use and maintain the older Phnom Penh facility for military and emergency needs even as commercial traffic shifts to the new airport.
Techo, a Khmer honorific meaning "powerful," is used as a title for senior military leaders and was associated with top army commanders, including Hun Sen. The new airport’s opening comes as Cambodia seeks to balance infrastructure growth, foreign investment and regional diplomacy while expanding its tourism sector.