New Airport City Highlights Cambodian Heritage

Phnom Penh’s brand new airport will feature a “future airport city showcasing the rich Cambodian (Khmer) Heritage” according to Foster + Partners the British architectural firm tasked with completing the project.

Central to this according to the firm were a central “house” which would be flanked by two curving arrival and departure areas, as reported by the website ArchPaper.com.

“The city is built on a central axis that terminates at the airport. Residential and commercial buildings are located on both sides of the central park buffered by a four-lane highway.”

Foster and Partners have stated that the design for the new airport and indeed new city had been inspired by the “rich heritage and history of Cambodia”, although with a “contemporary representation”.

Photo by The B1M

The New Phnom Penh International Airport

 the Techo Takhmao International Airport when finished, initially it was slated for a 2023 completion, but this has since been delayed until 2025 at the earliest. 

When finished it will encompass 280 million square feet, although this is being done in three separate phases. 

Initially it is planned to have a capacity of 13 million passengers, which is expected to rise to 30 million by 2030, and will cost a total of $1.5 billion according to Cambodia Investment Review.  

The new airport will also take the iconic PNH airport code from the current one, although both airports are planned to remain operational, with the older one likely to deal more with an increased domestic and regional flight schedule.

Some have also opined that it may even be used as the regional hub for the new Air Asia Cambodia when it launches.

Photo by The B1M

And the New Airport City?

Unlike the current Phnom Penh International Airport, the new build will not be snuggly situated in the heart of the city, rather being around 40km from downtown.

In fact this puts it not actually in Phnom Penh at all, but in the neighboring and underdeveloped Kandal province. Therefore it is hoped that the “New Airport City”, which will feature both commercial and residential builds will attract both investment, as well as hordes of people working, or looking to seek business opportunities in the area. 

And what will this mean for arrivals to Cambodia? Until the airport is finished, not all that much, but when it done, it will mean a slightly longer journey to the airport than we are used to.

Currently a highway is being constructed to connect the airport to the southern part of Hun Sen boulevard, with there being shuttle services, no doubt with Tuk-Tuk drivers eagerly and loudly awaiting customers at the other side. 

There is also talk of connecting the airport with Phnom Penh via a Chinese built light rail going to the recently opened AEON 3 mall.  

Perhaps most excitingly though for those of us living in Cambodia is the prospect of the larger airport potentially turning Phnom Penh into a flight hub, duly giving us patrons more options and indeed cheaper prices overall. 

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Gareth Johnson
Author: Gareth Johnson

Gareth Johnson is the founder of Young Pioneer Tours and has visited over 180+ countries. His passion is opening obscure destinations to tourism and sharing his experience of street food.