Cambodia has opened a new US$2 billion (A$3 billion) airport in its capital, Phnom Penh, as the country’s international arrival numbers have risen through much of 2025.
Domestic and international flights began at Techo International Airport on 9 September. The airport’s initial phase can accommodate 13 million passengers, and an expansion to 50 million passengers is planned by 2050.
“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,” wrote Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.
“Therefore, Cambodia has actively expanded and upgraded its international airports to meet growing travel demand, enhancing connectivity for travellers, especially those visiting Cambodia.”
Techo International Airport includes three runways. It will replace Phnom Penh International Airport, which has just one runway.
The new airport covers around 2,600 hectares, and is the country's largest by both passenger capacity and land area. It was developed by a joint venture between the Overseas Cambodian Investment Corporation conglomerate and Cambodia’s government.
A record 6.7 million international travellers visited Cambodia in 2024, a 23% increase from the prior year. Phnom Penh International Airport reported 4.75 million passengers.
Cambodia also opened a new international airport in its second-largest city Siem Reap in 2023, near the Angkor Wat temple complex. Angkor Wat, Cambodia’s most popular tourist attraction, saw a 15% year-over-year increase in international tourists in 2025’s first quarter.
However, Cambodia’s international arrival numbers plummeted by around 133,000 in June amid a series of armed border skirmishes with neighbouring Thailand. While a ceasefire was reached in July, the land border between the two countries has been closed since late June.
Related content
