2 hours ago
3
October 29, 2025 — 5:00am
The airport: Techo International Airport (KTI), Phnom Penh, Cambodia
The flight
Cathay Pacific CX600 from Phnom Penh to Hong Kong.
The arrival
There’s a carnival atmosphere at the new $US2 billion ($A3.05 billion) airport on the last day of free parking for locals keen to visit the stunning showpiece. The day before I arrive, it took friends three hours to cover the 20 kilometres from the city because of Sunday traffic. Today, it takes 80 minutes but travel time is expected to shrink as sightseeing wanes.
There’s definitely a wow factor as I enter the sprawling international airport – built to handle the biggest aircraft, including Airbus A380 superjumbos. It’s expected to boost tourism and investment in Cambodia. The airport caters for 15 million passengers a year, and that will rise to up to 50 million by 2050. The project began in 2019 and opened last month. It replaces the old Phnom Penh International Airport, which had just one-third of the new airport’s current capacity.
The look
There’s a resort feel to this vast airport located on 2600 hectares. It’s a matter of where to look first. The beautiful flowing design by Britain’s Foster + Partners – which also designed the Louvre in Abu Dhabi – is mesmerising. It incorporates the charm of Khmer culture and striking architecture with a stunning fluted exterior roofline. The interior ceiling is inspired by a Cambodian jungle canopy. Natural light filters through bamboo-patterned domes and arches in the central building with a wing to the north – another is planned. Most energy is generated by an onsite solar farm. Soft light, gold and bronze decor, masses of vertical gardens, rooftop greenery, and the use of native Cambodian flora, add to the glamour. A nine-metre golden Buddha statue in the abhayamudra pose, symbolising peace and protection, greets all.
Checking in
A proud Cambodian welcomes me to his new workplace, grinning when I say I’m impressed. I receive my onward journey economy boarding pass from Hong Kong to Sydney – it’s seamless. There are also banks of self-serve kiosks. The Cambodian government has signed several new air services agreements, including with Australia, which opens up the potential for non-stop flights between the two countries in the near future.
Security
There are no crowds, and it’s a rapid hop through passport control and immigration via a smartgate. Staff are on hand to help with any hiccups. Laptops need to be removed.
Food + drink
There’s a good choice of bars and restaurants and plenty of places to sit. The Gourmet Gallery food court offers hawker style food. Mei Xin Shi Ping is known for traditional mooncakes and Malis Restaurant serves revived traditional Cambodian dishes. Agong bakery shop, the flower-themed Apron Floral and Kamu Kamu, known for milk tea, are popular. Brooklyn’s Popcorn, Burger King, Krispy Kreme and Starbucks are here too. The Heineken Bar and the FCC restaurant are buzzing.
Retail therapy
Traditional arts and crafts star at I Love Cambodia, while Discover Cambodia has souvenirs including stone carvings and ceramics. The Gallery in Phnom Penh showcases stylish fashions, art and jewellery. Aelia Pier Gate Duty Free Store offers a wide range of goods.
Passing time
As a member of One World Alliance, I have access to the stylish Plaza Premium First Lounge, which has good dining and bar options, showers and massages. The Plaza Premium Lounge is also open. I can’t resist wandering through this squeaky-clean airport and soon boost my daily step count. I love the dynamic bamboo and metal art installation Birds Fly by Flapping Their Wings by Cambodian artist Sopheap Pich near Brown Coffee cafe. Free airport Wi-Fi is fast and there’s a Bodia Spa for pampering.
The verdict
This is one seductive airport. Step into a glass elevator for the best bird’s-eye views of the futuristic design.
Our rating out of five
★★★★½
The writer was a guest of Rosewood Phnom Penh
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Sue Wallace is an Albury-based freelance travel writer who loves writing about country ventures, luxury stays, cruising and dining and the journeys to get there.
