The End of an Era: From Pochentong to Techo International, the Great Shift in Cambodian Aviation

On 9 September 2025, Phnom Penh will turn an important page in its aviation history. Pochentong International Airport, the hub of Cambodian air traffic for more than half a century, will give way to the brand new Techo International Airport.

Located in Kandal province, some 30 kilometres south of the capital, this monumental project symbolises both the modernisation of national infrastructure and Cambodia's ambition to establish itself as a key regional hub.

The memory of Pochentong

Opened in the 1960s, Pochentong Airport was not only a gateway to Cambodia; it is a living witness to the upheavals that have marked the country. Over the decades, it has seen diplomats, refugees, investors and curious travellers pass through its doors, embodying in turn a place of hope, exile or rebirth, depending on the period in Cambodian history. A symbol of modernity when it opened, it also reflected the dark periods, particularly during the civil war and the country's isolation under the Khmer Rouge regime.

With the return to peace and stability in the 1990s, Pochentong regained its strategic role in national and regional redevelopment. In order to respond to the boom in tourism and economic expansion, the airport has undergone successive renovations and modernisations, each marking a milestone in the development of contemporary Cambodia. Under the management of the French group Vinci Airports, major works have enabled the extension of terminals, the improvement of infrastructure and the raising of safety and comfort standards to international levels.

The gamble of the future: Techo International

Techo International Airport represents a colossal investment of more than US$1.5 billion, financed largely by the Cambodia Airport Investment Company (CAIC), a public-private partnership.

With an area of more than 2,600 hectares, this airport far surpasses its predecessor. Its design meets the most stringent international standards: runways capable of accommodating the largest aircraft such as the Airbus A380, state-of-the-art terminals equipped with digital technologies and infrastructure capable of eventually handling up to 50 million passengers per year.

A strong regional ambition

The handover from Pochentong to Techo is more than just a logistical move. It illustrates Cambodia's desire to transform Phnom Penh into a competitive air hub in Southeast Asia, at a time when competition with Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City and Singapore remains fierce.

By focusing on connectivity, Phnom Penh hopes to attract more international airlines, diversify tourist flows and strengthen its trade links. The proximity of infrastructure such as the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville expressway and the new urban ring road around the capital complements this modernisation strategy.

A challenge for urban mobility

But the transition will not be without challenges. The distance from Techo International could complicate life for travellers accustomed to the relative centrality of Pochentong. The authorities are banking on the development of a network of expressways and, eventually, a railway line connecting the new airport directly to the city centre. Their efficiency and accessibility will largely determine the success of the transition.

The fate of Pochentong

Finally, the closure of Pochentong raises a sensitive question: what to do with this historic site? Located on a strategic axis, close to the urban centre, the former airport could be converted into a special economic zone, a green space or even an international convention centre. While the runways will soon fall silent, the land remains ripe with economic and urban opportunities that are sure to whet the appetite of investors.

Between nostalgia and modernity

The upcoming inauguration of Techo International Airport marks a symbolic break. Phnom Penh is shedding an airport that accompanied its rebirth after decades of darkness to embrace a facility designed for the future. For many Cambodians, it is a moment both tinged with nostalgia and full of hope.

The closure of Pochentong does not simply mark the end of an era; it testifies to how far the kingdom has come and its projection into the future. In the Cambodian sky, a