Techo International Airport Celebrates One Year as Cambodia's Premier Aviation Gateway

PHNOM PENH, Sept 9, 2026 (KPT) — Techo International Airport (TIA) has marked its first year of commercial operations, consolidating its role as Cambodia’s principal international aviation gateway and expanding the country’s connectivity with major global destinations. Commercial flights serving Phnom Penh were transferred to TIA on Sept 9, 2025, beginning with an Air Cambodia service, K6 611. The airport was formally inaugurated on Oct 20, 2025, by Prime Minister Hun Manet. Built across 2,600 hectares with an investment of about $2.3 billion, TIA is an ICAO Code 4F aerodrome capable of handling large aircraft including the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747. Its first phase has capacity for 13–15 million passengers annually, with expansion planned to reach 30 million and ultimately 50 million. During its first year, TIA demonstrated resilience when Typhoon Ragasa forced the diversion and temporary positioning of 13 Cathay Pacific aircraft in September 2025. The airport also boosted Cambodia’s international connectivity, with Etihad Airways launching Abu Dhabi–Phnom Penh flights in October 2025 and Turkish Airlines opening Istanbul–Phnom Penh services in December. Air Cambodia expanded its network from TIA with routes to Tokyo via Fuzhou, Dara Sakor, Da Nang and Phu Quoc. Passenger traffic reached about 2.4 million in the first half of 2026, while the broader aviation ecosystem expanded to include engineering, ground handling, cargo, safety and security operations. Domestic connectivity also grew, with Cambodia Airways introducing an ATR 72-600 in June to link Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. TIA has gained international recognition, ranking fifth globally among the World’s Best New Airport Terminals 2026 at the Skytrax World Airport Awards and being named by Prix Versailles among the World’s Most Beautiful Airports. Looking ahead, a new four-hectare cargo terminal and a dedicated VVIP terminal are scheduled to open in November 2026. Priorities for the second year include expanding international routes, strengthening cargo logistics, improving multimodal access and deepening links with Cambodia’s tourism, trade and investment sectors. “The key achievement was not simply opening a new airport, but establishing a safe, modern and internationally recognized aviation gateway for Cambodia,” said Dr. Sinn Chanserey Vutha, spokesperson for the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation. “The infrastructure is now in place, and the next mission is to connect Cambodia with more cities, markets, tourists, investors and opportunities.”