Phnom Penh Airport: Size, Scale, And Significance

Phnom Penh International Airport is Cambodia's second-largest airport by area, located 10 kilometres west of the nation's capital, Phnom Penh. The airport has one runway with an asphalt surface measuring 3,000 by 50 metres and two terminal buildings for domestic and international operations. In 2019, the airport handled 6 million passengers, exceeding its design capacity of 5 million people per year. A new airport, Techo International Airport, is currently under construction 30-40 kilometres south of Phnom Penh and is expected to replace the existing Phnom Penh International Airport as the city's main aviation hub. Techo International Airport will span over 2,600 hectares, making it one of the largest airports in the world by land area.

The new Techo Takhmao International Airport is 30km from Phnom Penh

The new Techo Takhmao International Airport is currently under construction in Kandal Province, Cambodia, and is located 30-40km from the capital city of Phnom Penh. The airport is set to replace the existing Phnom Penh International Airport for commercial and international flights, with the old airport being used for domestic flights, military operations, and private jets. The first phase of the new airport is expected to handle 13 million passengers a year, with a total capacity of 50 million passengers across the three phases.

The new airport is a significant infrastructure investment for Cambodia, boosting tourism, trade, investment, and connectivity for the country. The project is estimated to cost $1.5 billion and is being funded by a variety of investors and financial institutions, including the Royal Government of Cambodia, Overseas Cambodian Investment Corporation (OCIC), and several Cambodian banks. The airport is being constructed by the China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Group Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of one of the world's largest construction and real estate companies.

Techo Takhmao International Airport will span over 2,600 hectares (6,400 acres), making it one of the largest airports in the world by land area. The airport will feature a passenger terminal covering more than 240,000 square meters, with four floors and 22 gates, capable of handling 40 mid-size aircraft. The airport will also include a central head house, aerofoil wings, an 189-hectare apron, three parallel runways, and an 118-meter air traffic control tower.

The construction of the airport is being carried out in multiple phases, with the first phase expected to be operational by 2025. The airport is anticipated to be fully operational by the first half of 2025 or July 2025. The new airport will be designated as a 4F-class airport, the highest level in the world, enabling it to handle the largest aircraft, including the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747. The airport's design also incorporates sustainability features, with terminals designed to use natural light and include lush greenery, powered by an onsite solar farm.

The old airport will be used for military, private jets, and domestic flights

Phnom Penh International Airport, formerly Pochentong International Airport, is Cambodia's second-largest airport by area. It is located 10 kilometres west of Phnom Penh, the nation's capital, in the Pou Senchey District. The airport has been extensively used for military purposes and civilian supply airlifts during the Cambodian War.

A new airport, Techo International Airport, is currently under construction in Kandal Province, about 30-40 kilometres south of Phnom Penh. The new airport will replace the existing Phnom Penh International Airport as the city's main aviation hub. It will be one of the world's greenest airports, with terminals designed to use natural light and be powered by an onsite solar farm.

The old Phnom Penh airport will remain active and serve specific purposes. It will be used for military operations, private jets, and domestic flights. The airport has two terminal buildings, one dedicated to international flights and the other to domestic operations. The airport's design capacity is 5 million people per year.

Private jet clients at Phnom Penh International Airport can expect flexible departure times, with operators typically offering a 30-minute to two-hour window. The airport also accommodates private jets with limousine services, allowing clients to be driven right up to their jet. Additionally, the airport has a VIP service facility, which is likely to cater to high-level visitors and diplomats.

The new airport will be one of the world's greenest airports

Phnom Penh International Airport, Cambodia's busiest international airport, is set to be replaced by the Techo International Airport, currently under construction in Kandal Province, around 30-40 kilometres south of the capital city of Phnom Penh. The new airport is expected to be one of the world's greenest airports, with a focus on sustainability, eco-friendliness, and extensive use of plants and trees.

The Techo International Airport will be built on 2,600 hectares of land in Kandal and Takeo provinces, with a planned investment of $1.5 billion by the CAIC and construction undertaken by the China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Group Co., Ltd. The airport's design includes a vast roof canopy stretching from the drop-off to the airside, providing shelter from the heat and featuring a steel grid shell with a reactive screen to filter daylight. The roof is supported by structural trees, reaching up to 36 meters in height, symbolising "lightness and inherent modularity" according to Nikolai Malsch, a senior partner at Foster + Partners, the architecture firm behind the design.

The airport's terminals will be filled with lush greenery and tropical plants, creating a refreshing passenger experience. The inclusion of greenery is part of the Cambodian government's GreenSky project, aiming to make Techo a sustainable airport. The terminals will also be designed to maximise natural light and will be almost entirely powered by an onsite solar farm, consisting of rows of photovoltaic panels generating electricity for the airport's operations.

The Techo International Airport will be a significant upgrade from the current Phnom Penh International Airport, which has a capacity of 5 million passengers per year. The new airport's first phase is expected to handle 13 million passengers annually, with the second phase increasing this capacity to 30 million. The airport will be able to accommodate large long-haul aircraft, including Airbus A330s, A350s, and long-range Boeing planes.

Phnom Penh International Airport is Cambodia's busiest airport

Phnom Penh International Airport, formerly Pochentong International Airport, is Cambodia's busiest airport. It is located in the Pou Senchey District, 10 kilometres west of Phnom Penh, the nation's capital. The airport is at an elevation of 40 feet (12 m) above sea level and has one runway measuring 3,000 by 50 metres. It has two terminal buildings – one for international flights and one for domestic operations. The international terminal has seven aerobridges, with four built in 2003 and three added during the passenger terminal expansion in 2016–2017. The airport's design capacity is 5 million people per year.

Phnom Penh International Airport is Cambodia's main international gateway and the country's second-largest airport by area. During the Japanese occupation of Cambodia, the current airport site was one of fifteen airports built by the Japanese, reportedly using slave labour. After Cambodia gained independence from France in 1953, King Norodom Sihanouk ordered new airstrips or improvements to existing sites. During the Cambodian War, the airport was used extensively for airlifts of military and civilian supplies. After the collapse of the Khmer Republic in 1975, Pochentong was almost completely closed to international travel, except for some flights from Beijing and Pyongyang.

In July 1995, the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) signed a concession agreement with the French–Malaysian joint venture company, Société Concessionaire d'Aéroport (SCA), for a $100 million improvement program. In 2014, SCA announced a $100 million project to expand the passenger terminals at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap international airports to accommodate strong passenger growth. The project included extending parking lots and terminals, adding check-in and immigration counters, and improving baggage handling systems. The expansions doubled the airport's capacity to 5 million passengers per year.

In January 2018, the Cambodian government approved plans to build a new airport to replace the existing Phnom Penh International Airport. The new airport, called Techo International Airport, will be located in Kandal Province, about 30-40 kilometres south of Phnom Penh. The $1.5 billion project is being invested in by the CAIC and constructed by the China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Group Co., Ltd. Techo Airport is expected to handle 13 million passengers a year in its first phase and 30 million in the second phase. The new airport will handle commercial operations and international flights, while the old airport will be used for military, domestic, and private flights.

The airport has two terminal buildings

Phnom Penh International Airport, formerly known as Pochentong International Airport, is Cambodia's second-largest airport by area. It is located in the Pou Senchey District, 10 kilometres west of Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital. The airport has two terminal buildings – one for international flights and one for domestic operations. The international terminal has four aerobridges, with three more added during the passenger terminal expansion in 2016-2017. The airport's design capacity is 5 million people per year.

In 2014, the Société Concessionaire d'Aéroport (SCA) announced a $100 million project to expand the passenger terminals at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap international airports. The project included extending parking lots and terminals, adding more check-in and immigration counters, and installing new baggage handling systems. The commercial areas were also enlarged to accommodate more retail shops, restaurants, and food and beverage outlets. These expansions allowed the airport to double its capacity to 5 million passengers annually, up from 2.5 million.

In 2020, it was announced that a new airport would be built to serve Phnom Penh, with the existing airport to remain active for air freight, military, local flights, private flights, and high-level visitors. The new airport, known as Techo International Airport, is currently under construction in Kandal Province, located 30-40 kilometres south of Phnom Penh. The first phase of the new airport is expected to handle 13 million passengers a year, with a later phase increasing this to 30 million. Techo International Airport is planned to be one of the world's greenest airports, with terminals designed to use natural light and powered by an onsite solar farm.

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