Cambodia's largest airport begins operations

By Hoang Vu September 9, 2025 | 03:49 am PT

A police officer stands on a Segway patroller as passengers arrive on the inauguration day of the newly built Techo International Airport in Kandal province, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, on Sept. 9, 2025. Photo by AFP

Techo International Airport, a US$1.5 billion project and now the largest airport in Cambodia, officially began operations on Tuesday.

The first commercial flight, operated by Air Cambodia, arrived from Guangzhou, the capital of China’s Guangdong province, on Tuesday morning, according to Xinhua News Agency.

In a post on social media, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said the opening of the airport would strengthen the country’s global connections.

"Cambodia has actively expanded and upgraded its international airports to meet growing travel demand, enhancing connectivity for travelers, especially those visiting Cambodia," he said as cited by Khmer Times.

The new 4F-level international airport features dual four-kilometer runways and can accommodate the world’s largest aircraft, including the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747.

Its first phase is designed to handle about 13 million passengers annually.

Construction began in 2020 with the China State Construction Engineering Corporation as the contractor.

With Techo International Airport’s launch, Phnom Penh International Airport ceased operations at midnight on Sept. 9, with all passenger and cargo flights transferred to the new facility.

Cambodia attracted a total of 3.71 million international tourists in the first seven months of 2025, down 8% from the same period last year, the Ministry of Tourism said.