Cambodia’s civil aviation sector has reached a historic milestone with the operational launch of Techo International Airport (KTI), a 4F-class international airport featuring world-class scale and design. KTI has already been recognised as one of the 11 most remarkable architectural projects in the world, noted for its innovation and sustainability.
Techo International Airport, which officially began operations today, September 9, is the result of a landmark public-private partnership between the Royal Government of Cambodia (represented by the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation-SSCA) and OCIC (Overseas Cambodian Investment Corporation). The airport spans 2,600 hectares across Kandal Province and part of Takeo Province, with a total investment of around $2 billion, excluding land costs.
The airport is capable of accommodating large aircraft, including the Airbus A380-800 and Boeing 747-800, for long-haul intercontinental flights. According to SSCA evaluations, KTI ranks 9th globally among 4F-class airports.
The first flight to land at Techo International Airport was Air Cambodia (K6 611) at 8am, followed by Singapore Airlines (SQ 155) at 8.40am. The inaugural arrivals were welcomed by Minister Mao Havannall of the SSCA and Minister of Tourism Huot Hak.
On the same morning, Prime Minister Hun Manet shared his congratulations on the launch of KTI, describing it as a major step in expanding Cambodia’s connectivity to the world.
“Celebrating the official launch of Techo International Airport, which will begin operating flight services for national and international travellers, further broadening Cambodia’s connection to the world,” he said, via social media.
“The aviation sector is one of many ways to connect tourists, businesses, political networks and multi-purpose missions. As a major source of national revenue, it is driven by targeted policies to attract investment, strengthen diplomatic relations and promote other destinations. Cambodia has actively expanded and upgraded its international airports to meet growing travel demand, enhancing connectivity for travellers, especially those visiting the Kingdom,” he added.
According to the SSCA, the official inauguration ceremony of KTI will take place on October 20, 2025, with Prime Minister Hun Manet presiding.
With the launch of KTI, all operations at Phnom Penh International Airport (PPIA), which has been in service since 1959, will now cease.
Thourn Sinan, president of the Cambodia Chapter of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), told The Post on September 9 that the new airport will bring pride and new successes to Cambodia. However, he emphasised the need for all relevant sectors to increase efforts to promote Cambodia’s potential on the international stage across all industries.
He added that with strong promotion, Cambodia can more easily attract tourists and investors.
“Even if we have a state-of-the-art international airport, without strong promotion of our policies and plans to actual markets, we’ll still face the same old barriers,” he noted.
According to Sinan, key challenges in Cambodia’s tourism sector that need coordinated solutions include product development, connectivity and promotion.
Construction of Techo International Airport began on January 7, 2020, during the peak of the global Covid-19 pandemic. The project is being developed in three phases: Phase 1 (2025–2030), with the capacity to handle 13 million passengers per year, Phase 2 (2030–2050), up to 30 million, and Phase 3 (from 2050 onward), capacity of up to 50 million.
The airport’s long-term vision is to become a regional hub for both passenger and cargo transportation.
A report from the SSCA showed that in the first seven months of 2025 (January–July), Cambodia’s three international airports (Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Preah Sihanouk) recorded 37,492 total flight movements, an increase of nearly 16% compared to the same period in 2024. Between them, they handled 4.08 million passengers, up almost 16% year-on-year, and 47,218 tonnes of air cargo, a 28% increase.
