Quick answer: Phnom Penh’s Techo International Airport has handled nearly 2 million international passengers in its first year of operation, contributing an estimated 5% to Cambodia’s economic growth — though passenger traffic has grown more slowly than expected, which officials attribute partly to the impact of Middle East conflicts on international travel.
What Happened
According to Vietnam Plus, citing Sin Chansereyvutha, Secretary of State and spokesperson for Cambodia’s Secretariat of State Civil Aviation, the $2.3 billion Techo International Airport has served nearly 2 million international passengers ahead of its first anniversary on October 20, 2026. The airport’s operation has contributed roughly 5% to Cambodia’s overall economic growth over that period.
Chansereyvutha noted that passenger traffic “has not increased as expected due to the impact of conflicts in the Middle East” on international travel patterns, even as cargo traffic through the airport has continued to grow steadily. To build on the cargo side, Techo is developing additional modern cargo warehouses to international standards and an aircraft-maintenance workshop in partnership with Singapore.
Techo is classified as a 4F airport — capable of handling the largest commercial aircraft in operation, including the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-800 — and is ranked 9th globally among 4F airports, with its architectural design ranked 11th worldwide.
Why This Matters for Travelers
Techo replaced Phnom Penh International Airport as the capital’s main gateway, and its first-year numbers give a useful sense of how established it now is: nearly 2 million international passengers is a substantial base, even if growth has lagged initial projections. For travelers, the practical takeaway is that Techo is now a genuinely major, purpose-built hub rather than a transitional facility — worth knowing if you’re planning arrival logistics using our Phnom Penh Airport Guide or Phnom Penh Airport Hotels guide.
What This Means If You’re Planning a Trip
- Techo is Phnom Penh’s main airport now: If you haven’t flown into Cambodia recently, note that the old Phnom Penh International Airport has been replaced by Techo as the capital’s primary gateway.
- It’s built for scale: As a 4F airport capable of handling the world’s largest aircraft, Techo has capacity well ahead of current traffic, which should mean it stays comfortable to transit through even as international arrivals grow.
- Growth has been steady, not explosive: Slower-than-projected passenger growth means fewer crowds and congestion concerns for now compared to what a faster ramp-up might have brought.
- Plan your arrival and onward transport: See our Phnom Penh Hotel Prices cost guide for budgeting your stay near the airport or in the city center.
Bottom Line
Techo International Airport is closing in on its first anniversary with nearly 2 million international passengers served and a meaningful contribution to Cambodia’s economy, even as growth has been slower than officials initially projected. It’s now firmly established as Phnom Penh’s main gateway, with capacity to spare as international travel to Cambodia continues to recover.