Cambodia on Tuesday opened the capital’s new Techo International Airport (KTI) as officials welcomed an inaugural flight to great fanfare, with the hope of boosting tourism. Fire trucks crisscrossed streams of water over the Air Cambodia flight from China as it taxied to the terminal in the new $2-billion facility located about 20 kilometers outside of Phnom Penh.
The new three-runway facility replaces the nearly 70-year-old Phnom Penh International Airport which had only one runway. It had been scheduled to be operational in July but the opening was delayed for a technical issue.
“The opening is a major step for Cambodia’s aviation and economy,” former Prime Minister Hun Sen said on social media.
In 2024, Phnom Penh International Airport saw 4.75 million passengers. The new airport is initially expected to be able to accommodate 13 million passengers, but that capacity will increase to 30 million after 2030 and up to 50 million by 2050.
The opening follows the inauguration of the Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport in 2023 near the country’s most popular tourist attraction, the centuries-old Angkor Wat temple complex and comes as Cambodia looks to capitalize on the lucrative tourism industry.
In 2024, some 6.7 million international tourists visited the Southeast Asian country, a 23% increase from 2023.
Prime Minister Hun Manet said Phnom Penh’s old airport will continue to be maintained even with the opening of the new facility.
The Cambodian military will continue to use the facility and the runway will also be kept available in case of emergency.
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