On September 9, 2025, Cambodia marked a major turning point in its modern history with the grand opening of the Techo International Airport, a sprawling $2 billion facility located just 20 kilometers south of Phnom Penh. The inauguration of this state-of-the-art aviation hub signals Cambodia’s ambition to become a key player in Southeast Asia’s tourism and economic landscape, and it’s hard to overstate the excitement and optimism that surrounded the event.
The opening ceremony was nothing short of spectacular. The first commercial flight, an Air Cambodia Airbus arriving from China, was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute, fire trucks crisscrossing streams of water over the taxiing aircraft—a scene that delighted onlookers and signaled a new era for Cambodian aviation, as reported by The Moodie Davitt Report. "Welcoming the first passengers at Techo International Airport is a defining moment," said Pung Kheav Se, Chairman of both the Overseas Cambodian Investment Corporation (OCIC) and Cambodia Airport Investment Co., Ltd. (CAIC), the developer behind the project. "It creates new opportunities for Cambodia—for visitors, businesses, and investors—and marks the beginning of a new chapter for our country."
And what a chapter it promises to be. The airport, developed by CAIC—a joint venture between OCIC and the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation—boasts three runways and a terminal designed by the renowned British firm Foster + Partners. The design is a striking blend of Khmer-inspired aesthetics and modern sustainability, with bamboo-patterned domes that evoke traditional weaving. At the heart of the terminal stands a nine-meter-tall Buddha statue in the Abhayamudra pose, greeting travelers with a sense of peace and protection, an emblem of Cambodia’s cultural pride and its vision for the future.
Techo International Airport’s initial capacity is set at 13 million passengers annually, but planners are thinking big. According to Asian Aviation, that number is expected to grow to 30 million after 2030 and could reach a staggering 50 million by 2050. The facility replaces the nearly 70-year-old Phnom Penh International Airport, which had only one runway and was struggling to handle the country’s rising passenger numbers. In 2024 alone, the old airport served 4.75 million passengers, a figure dwarfed by the new airport’s capabilities.
The airport’s launch is more than just an aviation milestone; it is a strategic move to turbocharge Cambodia’s tourism sector, trade, and international investment. The timing couldn’t be better. In 2024, Cambodia welcomed 6.7 million international tourists, a 23% increase from the previous year, according to official figures cited by The Associated Press. The government hopes that the new airport will make it easier for international visitors to explore the country’s cultural treasures, from the vibrant capital to the ancient temples of Angkor Wat, and provide a seamless, modern experience for travelers and airlines alike.
To ensure operations meet global standards, CAIC appointed leading partners including Vinci Airports, Lagardère Travel Retail, Newrest, and Singapore Airlines Engineering Company to manage everything from operations to retail, catering, and aircraft maintenance. These collaborations are expected to position Techo International Airport as a regional hub, gradually expanding long-haul routes and strengthening Cambodia’s international connectivity.
The airport’s name, "Techo," meaning "powerful" in Khmer, is an honorific given to top army commanders in Cambodia, including former Prime Minister Hun Sen. The project’s symbolism runs deep. The launch coincided with the 25th anniversary of OCIC, a conglomerate that has played a central role in Cambodia’s economic transformation over the past two decades, building more than 10,000 homes and developing key infrastructure such as bridges, roads, and flyovers.
Former Prime Minister Hun Sen took to social media to hail the opening as "a major step for Cambodia’s aviation and economy." He added, "It’s a great honor to be one of the first passengers to use the airport and it looks absolutely amazing." Briton David Weare, who arrived on a flight from Singapore, echoed this sentiment, saying, "I can't wait to get through and see the rest of it." Their enthusiasm reflects the sense of national pride and anticipation that the new airport has inspired.
But the journey to this moment wasn’t without its challenges. The opening was initially slated for July 2025 but was postponed due to a technical issue, and the project’s price tag rose from an initial $1.5 billion to $2 billion by the time of inauguration, as noted by Sinn Chanserey Vutha, spokesperson for Cambodia’s civil aviation authority. The airport was built by the China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Group Co. Ltd., further highlighting Cambodia’s growing ties with international partners in infrastructure development.
The Techo International Airport is not Cambodia’s only recent foray into aviation modernization. The Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport, financed by China, opened near the iconic Angkor Wat temple complex in 2023, further enhancing the country’s tourism infrastructure. These projects, taken together, underscore Cambodia’s determination to position itself as a major destination in the global travel industry.
Of course, the new airport’s impact extends beyond tourism. With improved transport links, Cambodia is poised to expand its trade flows and attract greater foreign investment. Thousands of jobs are expected to be created in aviation, hospitality, and related sectors, benefiting local businesses and the wider economy. The government’s continued investment in infrastructure is seen as a key driver of long-term prosperity.
However, there are challenges on the horizon. Tensions with neighboring Thailand, including armed border clashes that claimed at least 41 lives before a truce was reached in July, could complicate efforts to attract more tourists. Prime Minister Hun Manet, who succeeded his father Hun Sen after elections in 2023, emphasized in May that Phnom Penh’s old airport will remain available for military use and emergencies, a reminder of the complex realities facing the region.
Despite these hurdles, the opening of Techo International Airport is widely viewed as a landmark achievement. "Techo International Airport stands as both a proud emblem of Cambodia’s identity and a gateway to the future, ready to welcome the world as Phnom Penh strengthens its position in global air networks," an airport company statement declared, as reported in The Moodie Davitt Report.
As Cambodia looks to the future, the success of Techo International Airport will depend on continued investment, sustainable tourism practices, and the ability to adapt to a rapidly changing global landscape. But for now, the country has every reason to celebrate—a new era of connectivity, opportunity, and national pride has taken flight.
