Cambodia's Techo Airport Celebrates First Anniversary Amid Passenger Decline

Key summary

Techo International Airport in Cambodia marked its first full year of operation with passenger numbers falling short of forecasts. While air cargo continues to grow, the country's aviation sector faces a downturn in passenger traffic. The airport, located about 20 kilometers south of Phnom Penh and opened in September 2025 to replace the capital's old facility, was designed for 13 to 15 million annual passengers and has been recognized internationally, including ranking among the world's most beautiful airports at Prix Versailles. In the first five months of 2026, Techo handled approximately 656,000 international arrivals, a figure nearly 26 percent lower than the previous year. Overall passenger traffic across Cambodia's three main international airports—Techo, Siem Reap-Angkor, and Sihanoukville—dropped by 11 percent to 4.56 million people between January and September 2026, compared to 5.11 million in the same period last year, according to a report from the State Civil Aviation Authority (SSCA) released on October 20. SSCA spokesperson Sinn Chanseyreath attributed the decline to regional tensions, specifically along the Cambodia-Thailand border, conflicts in the Middle East, and slowing global and regional economic growth which has made travelers more cautious with spending. Despite the drop in passengers, flight volume through the three airports decreased only slightly by 2 percent, falling from 47,637 flights in the first nine months of 2025 to 46,721 in the same period of 2026. A total of 35 airlines, including four Cambodian carriers and 31 international ones, continue to operate domestic routes. Techo has attracted new international flights from Etihad Airways and Turkish Airlines, though some carriers have reduced frequencies; Thai AirAsia cut its Bangkok-Phnom Penh service in half, from 14 to seven weekly flights. Chanseyreath noted that the modest reduction in flight numbers indicates airlines are maintaining their networks and confidence in Cambodia's long-term aviation future, with the SSCA planning to collaborate with relevant ministries and institutions to expand connectivity and support passenger transport recovery.