Cambodia’s capital city is undergoing a major transformation as a new £1bn airport is set to open next year. Techo Takhmao International Airport near Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh is set to be the ninth largest airport globally and promises to handle millions of passengers annually, boosting the economy to become a major player in the region.
Located 12 miles from Phnom Penh, the first phase of the airport is to open its doors next year with a single runway and terminal which will be able to handle 13 million annual passengers annually and around 175,000 tonnes of cargo. Phase Two will expand the airport, adding a second wing to the terminal by 2030, increasing passenger capacity to 30 million. A third and final phase will see the airport grow to 50 million passengers by 2050.
The new airport will reportedly replace the Phnom Penh International Airport, the current largest airport in Cambodia, for commercial flights, while the old airport will be used for domestic flights and as a military airbase.
The incredible new airport will feature four floors and will include a passenger terminal spanning an area of more than 240,000m². It will be classified as a 4F-level airport, the highest level in the world. The airport will be connected to the capital by a motorway and eventually an elevated integrated rail line.
It will cover more than 2,600 hectares and span the provinces of Kandal and Takeo. It promises to enhance Cambodia’s connectivity and economic potential. According to The B1M, Cambodia is currently the fastest-growing economy in Southeast Asia, and the third fastest in Asia overall.
Cambodia’s airport will draw inspiration from local traditions have an architectural design based on the jungles of the country, with trunks reaching up to the roof of the building. The roof will be supported by structural trees spanning 36 metres. The terminal will be almost entirely run on energy generated by an onsite photovoltaic farm, and will be flooded with natural light and full of beautiful greenery.
The terminal building’s central head house will be flanked by two aerofoil-shaped piers on each side, designed to minimise walking distances.
Last year, Cambodia opened £722,000 Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport. The new 700-hectare airport was built to keep up with Cambodia’s ever growing tourism sector. In 2023, 5.45 million international tourists visited Cambodia, marking a 139.5% increase compared to 2022.
