Techo Takhmao International Airport

Cambodia is undergoing massive infrastructure development (new Phnom Penh- Sihanoukville highway, new Siem Reap airport) to support its growing economy and position itself as a regional transportation hub.

One of the most ambitious aiport contruction projects currently underway is the new Techo Takhmao International Airport located about 30–40 kilometers south of the capital Phnom Penh in Kandal Province. Slated for completion in 2025, the new Phnom Penh airport will span 2,600 hectares (6,400 acres) making it one of the largest airports in the world. The $1.5 billion project broke ground in 2019 and will replace Phnom Penh International Airport for all commercial international flights when operational.

Techo Takhmao International Airport will be designated as a 4F class airport, enabling it to handle the largest aircraft including the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747. Initial capacity is planned for 13 million passengers per year with substantial room to expand. The airport will have 22 aircraft gates in the first phase. While Techo Takhmao takes over international flights, Phnom Penh Airport will be relegated to domestic flights, private jets, military operations and government aircraft.

The new Phnom Penh airport represents a major infrastructure investment that will boost tourism, trade, investment, and connectivity for the capital and Cambodia in a whole. With construction now about 50% done as of late 2023, the airport is a symbol of the country’s modernization and economic aspirations.

The new Techo Takhmao International Airport is located in Kandal Province, which borders the southeast outskirts of Phnom Penh. The site sits along National Highway 2 about 30 kilometers from central Phnom Penh.

The massive planned size of the airport is one of its most notable features. At 2,600 hectares (approximately 6,400 acres), Techo Takhmao will be among the largest airports in the world by land area. To put the sheer scale of Techo Takhmao in perspective, here are some comparisons:

• Larger than the country of Macau (18 km2)
• Over 3 times the size of Phnom Penh (800 hectares)
• Nearly the size of San Francisco (29 km2)

The primary purpose of the new Techo Takhmao International Airport is to replace Phnom Penh International Airport as Cambodia’s main hub for all international commercial air travel. Phnom Penh international airport (PNH) is the busiest airport in Cambodia and handled 6 million passengers in 2019.

The new airport will take over all international passenger flights, allowing the old Phnom Penh airport to focus on:

• Domestic flights within Cambodia
• Military operations
• Private and charter jets
• Flights for diplomats and foreign leaders visiting the country

Source: Angkor Photography Tours 

Cambodia’s Techo airport to become ‘inter-regional transport hub’

The Star | 10-Jan-2024

The under-construction Techo International Airport (TIA), Cambodia’s largest once completed, is among the most important public infrastructures, reflecting its status as a gateway to the capital and its crucial role in the global economy, according to the heads of Foster + Partners, the firm that designed the facility.

It said the project represents a new vision for Phnom Penh, with a design that draws inspiration from the country’s ancient civilisation, its traditional forms and the tropical climate.

It added that construction of the airport, located about 20km south of the city centre, is progressing swiftly.

The firm’s master plan for the hub includes a state-of-the-art terminal at the heart of a new airport city. It aims to provide the highest levels of passenger experience and set new standards for sustainability.

Stefan Behling, head of studio at Foster, commented on the airport’s importance as a symbolic gateway and its role in the globalised economy.

“The new airport will be an important part of Phnom Penh’s development as the nation’s primary inter-regional, inter-modal transport hub,” he said.

According to the company, the terminal building features a central head the nation’s primary inter-regional, inter-modal transport hub,” he said

According to the company, the terminal building features a central head house flanked by two aerofoil-shaped piers to minimise walking distances.

The house encompasses passenger processing, security, immigration and retail facilities under a single roof canopy, which extends from the drop-off area to the airside, sheltering passengers from the elements.

“The roof – supported by structural trees spanning 36m– is a lightweight steel grid shell, with an innovative screen that filters daylight and illuminates the vast terminal space.

“Designed to be highly legible at a human scale, there are minimal level changes throughout the terminal and views out to the apron to improve clarity and make movement intuitive. Interior materials are warm and welcoming, evoking the Cambodian vernacular in a contemporary manner,” it stated.

Nikolai Malsch, senior partner at Foster, emphasised the airport’s symbolic significance.

“Inspired by Cambodia’s history and built heritage, the terminal’s design stands as a modern embodiment of [Khmer] culture. The terminal roof is an expression of lightness and inherent modularity, serving as a symbolic gateway for every traveller’s journey,” he said.

Sinn Chanserey Vutha, undersecretary of state at the State Secretariat of civil Aviation (SSCA), told The Post recently that the airport stands on 2,800ha of land spanning parts of Kandal province’s Takmao town and neighbouring Takeo province.

As of December, over 58% of the construction was complete, with finalisation of the first phase scheduled for 2024 and operations set to commence in 2025.

Vutha reported that the first construction phase, costing $800 million, included significant efforts.

The passenger terminal, managed by China Construction Unit III (CCTEB), is 47.4% complete; the power supply centre is 73.7% complete; parking lot works by Shanghai Baoye (Cambodia) are 52.2% complete; and the air traffic control tower, under Cana Sino Construction Corporation (CSCC), is 90.8% complete.

“If nothing changes, the project will be completed by the end of 2024. We expect the airport to open in the first half of 2025, following pilot testing and certification for flight,” he stated.

Having broken ground in 2019, TIA – formerly Techo Takhmao International Airport – is expected to complete its first phase in mid-2024, as per updated master schedule from the Cambodia Airport Investment Company (CAIC).

CAIC, a joint venture between the SSCA and locally-owned conglomerate Overseas Cambodian Investment Corp (OCIC), operates with a 90:10 ownership structure, as per the OCIC website.

Thourn Sinan, president of the Pacific Asia Tourism Association (PATA) Cambodia Chapter, highlighted TIA’s importance for the country’s aviation development, as it will handle long-haul direct flights from various global destinations.

“Once the airport is operational, we anticipate welcoming new long-haul destinations directly to our country. The number of tourist arrivals has been gradually improving and the airport’s completion will play a vital role in welcoming new flights,” he said.

According to Foster, they aspire to make the airport one of the world’s greenest, adding that their design approach combines sustainable technology with local craftsmanship, aiming to minimise running costs.

The terminal, bathed in natural light and filled with lush greenery, will run almost entirely on energy from an onsite solar farm.

The terminal’s modular construction and phased timeline enhance constructability. The first phase includes the central head house and the northern aerofoil wings, able to cater to up to 13 million passengers annually.

Future phases will expand capacity to accommodate 30 million passengers, as per the firm. – The Phnom Penh Post/ANN