Phnom Penh International Airport will be closed in 2025

After more than 60 years of operation, Phnom Penh International Airport will be closed after Techo Takhmao International Airport, located in Kandal Province, starts to operate. This was confirmed by His Excellency Dr. Mao Havannall, Minister in Charge of the Secretariat of Civil Aviation, as quoted by the National Television of Cambodia recently.

Please be informed that Phnom Penh International Airport was built and opened in 1955 on an area of 366.72 hectares in Sangkat Kakap, Khan Pou Senchey, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, about 10 kilometers away. In 1995, the Royal Government of Cambodia approved the investment by SCA to develop, build, and operate this international airport. Pochentong International Airport was renamed Phnom Penh International Airport in January 2003.

However, due to the small size of Phnom Penh International Airport, located in the center of the downtown area of Phnom Penh and in the current operation area of the airport, which is full of high-rise buildings as obstacles to the safety of all types of airport take-off and landing operations and surrounded by a large number of residential buildings, the Royal Government has approved Cambodia Airports Investment Co., Ltd. to develop, build, and operate a new 4F international airport called "Techo Takhmao International Airport".

It should be reminded that Techo Takhmao International Airport was built on an area of 2,700 hectares, located in Kandal Stueng District, Kandal Province. The new airport was inaugurated on June 16, 2020, with a total investment of $1.5 billion. It will be divided into three phases: the first phase will be completed in 2025, the second phase will be completed in 2030, and the third phase will be completed in 2030. At present, the construction of Techo International Airport is about 68% complete.