Thailand's competition is growing stronger. It just opened a new airport.

Cambodia now has all the necessary attributes to challenge Thailand in the battle for foreign tourists. The Asian country has just opened the country's largest airport, which has been under construction for the past six years. The airport, Techo International Airport (KTI), replaces the 70-year-old Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH). "The airport will initially have a capacity of 13 million passengers per year, but its capacity is expected to increase to 30 million after 2030 and 50 million by 2050," writes The Independent.

New airport in Cambodia now open

This is one of the most significant events in Cambodia's recent history. Nearly seventy years after its opening, Phnom Penh International Airport is suspending operations in favor of the newly opened Techo Airport, also located at the foot of the capital, home to nearly 2.5 million people. This means the Asian country now boasts two major airports – the Siem Reap–Angkor Airport, opening in 2023, remains a key landmark.

The construction of Techo Airport has already cost around two billion dollars, and several more stages of the project remain. "The airport's name means 'mighty' in Khmer and is an honorary title awarded to the highest commanders of the Cambodian military," we read.

The first plane to land at the airport on September 9th was an Air Cambodia flight from China. Other international carriers are also present at the Techo airport, including Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Vietnam Airlines. Turkish Airlines will also launch flights from Istanbul in December 2025.

The first tourists are delighted

Passengers who landed at the airport during its first week of operation are thrilled. "It's a great honor to be one of the first visitors. It looks absolutely amazing," said a British tourist who arrived from Singapore on Tuesday.

This is a major step towards developing the country's tourism potential, which for years has been overshadowed by the much more popular Thailand. In 2024, Cambodia welcomed 6.7 million foreign visitors, compared to over 35 million in its larger and wealthier neighbor.