Techo International Airport Soft Launch - New Gateway to the World

After much fanfare, the Techo International Airport (KTI) commenced operations with Air Cambodia’s flight K6 611 from China to Phnom Penh on September 9, 2025.

The first flight was greeted with an official ceremony, and there are high hopes that the multi-billion-dollar airport will open the Kingdom to the far reaches of the globe and form part of Cambodia’s new gateway to the world.

The Techo International Airport (KTI) was reported to have been averaging 130 flights and 15,000 passengers daily in its first week of operation, according to the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation.

September 8, 2025, also marked the end of the operation of services for commercial flights to Phnom Penh International Airport, which resulted in an understandable outpouring of serendipitous memories for an airport which has been operating for nearly seven decades, having opened on January 19, 1959. Part of the charm of the airport, right until its closure, has been its ease of accessibility and, from a passenger's point of view, the speed at which you could enter and exit.

So will the KTI fulfil its enormous expectations and pay dividends on the $1.5 billion being spent on the first phase of the airport, which has an initial capacity of 13 million passengers per year and is designed as a 4F-class facility, able to handle the world's largest aircraft. But are those aircraft coming, and will 13 million passengers be passing through the brand new gates? 

Find out more about the Techo International Airport

We Should Celebrate the Airport’s Design

The airport is getting praised for its design, which has embraced the Kingdom’s heritage and culture and incorporated elements of the tropical climate, local landscapes, and more..

The airport was conceived by UK-based Foster+Partners, the firm behind London’s Millennium Bridge, Hong Kong’s HSBC Building, and Apple Park in Cupertino. They won a Grand Prix at the World Architecture News | World Interiors News Awards.

The local branded F&B and retail outlets have also embraced innovative designs - the design and architecture of the retail outlets are magnificent at the airport. 

Cambodia Airports is operating KTI, and Lagardère Travel Retail won the tender to operate a 12-year concession of Duty Free & Fashion, Foodservice and Travel Essentials at the airport.

Some retail outlets include: Brown TIA Art View, Bodia Spa, Senteurs d’Angkor. Amazing Cambodia and its sister brand “ I Love Cambodia”.

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More Flights, More Visitors, Great Expectations - Techo International Airport

Prime Minister Hun Manet said at the launch, “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.”

Sin Chansereivutha, spokesperson for the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) of Cambodia, said the airport is currently served by 28 airlines, including four domestic and 24 foreign carriers. 

The number of airlines operating from Phnom Penh in 2019, at its peak, according to SSCA, was at least 29 and 44 airlines served Cambodia's three international airports then.

Will the airport match the hyperbole being reported in the media and open new gateways to new regions of the world? Many of the flights and airlines that were going to operate new routes were announced ages ago but are still being reported as breaking news. No real new market has yet been unlocked - with Europe, the Americas and Australia high on the wish list.

The Cambodia Tourism Board (CTB) said the aviation sector is on track to hit a historic milestone and is undergoing a transformative era due to the surge in flight operations and the expansion of international connectivity. They anticipate that Cambodia will welcome 31,579 flights in 2025, a 14.2 per cent increase from 27,638 flights in 2024, and passenger seats represent a similar percentage increase. 

2024 is not the high mark by which we should be benchmarking record growth - something that has been repeatedly sounded out by analysts. In 2019, Cambodia had approximately 58,354 total flight movements.

The airport does have huge potential, though, and the ability to cater to larger aircraft flying from farther afield should unlock those new markets. Once those happen, we could see the real benefits being realised.

• Turkish Airlines will begin flights from Istanbul to Phnom Penh on December 10, 2025 - the wording from the airline suggests the flight will have a stopover in Bangkok, so it's not direct.
• Etihad Airways will launch a direct flight from Abu Dhabi to Phnom Penh on October 3, 2025 - this was announced as far back as November 2024. 

Airlines have been offering promotions on routes from the new airport to try and entice business with discounted prices. There remains confidence in the potential of Cambodia as a market and a perceived willingness from investors and passengers to discover the Kingdom of Wonder.

The Ministry of Tourism believes as many as 8 million international visitors could be arriving by 2028 nationwide, which would outstrip the 6.61 million in 2019.

What Can Passengers Expect  - Techo International Airport 

Officially, we are still in the soft launch period, and the official inauguration ceremony of KTI will take place on October 20, 2025. Hopefully, the teething issues can be addressed, but by most accounts, passengers will enjoy a more contemporary and smooth entry and exit from the country.

Security Measures & E-Gates

Passengers at the newly built Techo International Airport will witness Cambodia police officers using Segways within the terminals. 

The smart gates have also been installed, although a common sight at many airports globally, they are new for Phnom Penh, and at the time of the launch, only passport holders of certain countries can use the e-gates at immigration. 

This is due to be expanded in the future, but currently these can be used by passport holders from ASEAN, five additional countries from Asia (China, Macao, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea), as well as the US, Australia, UK, France and Germany.

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How To Reach Techo International Airport (KTI) by Public Transport

The airport sits about 26 kilometres from the riverside area of the capital. The concerns for many from the get-go have been the potential hassle, length of time and cost to access the new airport compared to Phnom Penh International Airport.

KTI Airport Express Bus: Routes, Costs and Frequency

The buses are operated by the Phnom Penh City Hall, and the ticket price for the Airport Express Bus is 1500 Riel (equivalent to about US$ 0.37 per trip), operating from 5:30 to 23:30. The 14 buses in operation are due to arrive at the station every 10-15 minutes. Luggage spaces are also provided on the buses. 

It was widely reported at the time of the launch of operations that many curious Cambodians were using the buses and their own transport to visit the airport, which led to traffic issues.. All of this should have been foreseen, as it's in line with other new infrastructure projects being launched, which generated ample curiosity. 

For those who are looking to park at the airport, parking for all types of vehicles at Techo International Airport will be charged according to set hours.

𝗥𝗶𝗱𝗲-𝗛𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝘀

Ride-hailing apps offer transport options and are available from Grab, Move, WowNow and PassApp, with estimated costs to the riverside area (as a reference):

• 63,000 Riels (US $15.75) for a standard car (up to 4 passengers)
• 30,000 Riels (US $7.50) for a tuktuk
• 64,000 Riels (US $16) for an electric taxi

𝗖𝗮𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲

Cars can also be rented at the Arrival Hall of Techo International Airport, but rates are not currently available.

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