Synopsis: The airport is one of the most important infrastructure services in Cambodia. Apart from its role as a traffic center, the airport will act as a catalyst for a broader economic growth and position the kingdom as a competitive actor on the global stage.
The highly expected opening of the international airport of $ 1.5 billion is expected to be surrounded by global connectivity and future economic growth in Cambodia. The airport will start flight operations today, with an official inauguration planned for October 20.
The International Airport Techo, a pioneering aviation project, is located on 2,600 hectares of land, which comes across the municipality of Prek Sleng, the Kandal district of Kandal in the province of Kandal and part of the Bati District in the province of Takoo Stang Stung. Once in operation, it will replace Phnom Penh International Airport, which has been the main turntable of the capital since 1959.
Techo International Airport is about 20 kilometers south of Phnom Penh and is invested by the Cambodia Airport Investment Company (CAIC), a joint venture between the state secretariat of the civil aviation and the Ocic (Ocic) by Pung Kheav SE in overseas. Modern airport is designed for international 4F standards, so that it is housed the world's largest passenger aircraft, including the Airbus A380-800 and Boeing 747-800.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority, the airport ranks under 4F-rated airports worldwide, while its characteristic architecture has recorded it worldwide to the top 11 airports for design and scale.
The project is implemented in three phases. The first phase that will be finished this year comprises a 4 -kilometer runway and facilities to manage more than 15 million passengers a year.
By 2030, the addition of a second runway will increase the capacity to 30 million, while the third and last phase will extend the airport to 45 million passengers by 2050.
Sin Chanseyvutha, Foreign Minister and spokeswoman for the Civil Aviation Secretariat, confirmed the Khmer Times that the new airport will be opened on schedule.
“The International Airport Techo will be a great achievement in the development of the Cambodia Air Affairs sector,” he said.
The airport is expected to play a crucial role in increasing trade, investments and tourism.
Hong Vanak, an economic researcher at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said that Techo International Airport will not only attract international tourists, but also investors and business travelers as soon as it becomes an operational airport.
“This is an airport on a large international scale. If the flights increase, the attention of the large airlines will attract and strengthen the connections between Cambodia. At the same time, commercial activities on the way to the airport and the surrounding areas will record a rapid development,” he said.
Signs of growth are already on the Samdech Techo Hun sen boulevard, which is also known as 60-meter-street, which Phnom Penh connects to the airport. Special building, holes, commercial apartments, banks, exhibition rooms and retail stores have come to the fore since the Airport was announced.
Vanak added that the increase in passengers will promote the growth of guest houses, hotels, restaurants, business offices and product exhibition rooms nearby.
Lim Heng, Vice President of the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce, found that the international airport development company Techo is planning to found a special economic zone near the airport that could transform the area into a flourishing trading center.
“In the first one or two years, however, the development may not be very visible because the airport zones usually develop slowly. In the long term, this area can become a large investment corridor,” he said.
For the tourism sector, the new airport is viewed as a symbol for the modernization of Cambodia. Chhay Sivlin, President of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents, said that the airport would increase the prestige of the country's tourism industry and improve its competitiveness on the international stage.
“Techo International Airport is a pride. He will help attract the attention of global travelers, investors and airlines. I have already promoted it at international travel fairs and it has sparked a strong interest,” she said.
The new facility will also address the limited capacity of Cambodia in air freight services. At the moment, the country's airports cannot be able to absorb large freight aircraft, which limits the trade potential.
Charles Vann, director of Caic, said that the airport would serve as a passenger center and as a cargo hub, so that Cambodia improves its logistics sector and better serves regional and international markets.
With the International Airport of Techo, which is in operation, Phnom Penh International Airport is permanently closed in the night of September 8th and ended in service for almost seven decades. Prime Minister Hun Manet has confirmed that the government has no plans to privatize the 400 hectare location.
The country will remain under the administration of the state secretariat of the civil aviation, whereby the government ensures that the assets are preserved for national use. Lim Heng suggested that the old location could be converted into the state infrastructure to support long -term economic growth and found that it has considerable potential.
For residents, the closure of the old airport can bring in short -term relief from traffic jams, which has long been a complaint from travelers. However, Heng found that an overload could return within two to three years, since population growth, housing estate and increased use of vehicles have pressure on the road networks.
The International Airport Techo is one of the most important infrastructure services in Cambodia. It is expected to strengthen international air connectivity, expand freight capacity, attract new airlines and promote tourism, trade and investments. Apart from its role as a means of transport, the airport is a catalyst for a broader economic growth and Cambodia is positioned on the global stage as a more competitive player.
- Tags: Techo International Airport