KANDAL, Cambodia, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Techo International Airport (TIA), a 4F-level international airport, commenced its official operations on Tuesday, marking a historic milestone for the country's aviation sector.

The official opening was marked by the arrival of the first commercial flight operated by Air Cambodia and greeted with a traditional water salute.

Has Chhivhun, a 27-year-old Cambodian passenger from Australia, said as a Cambodian, she was very proud of this state-of-the-art airport.

"It's really beautiful and huge, depicting the identity of Cambodia," she told Xinhua while arriving at the airport from Melbourne.

"I feel excited because when I got off the plane, I felt that I was in an advanced country thanks to our huge airport," she added.

Chhivhun believes that this new airport will serve as a major gateway for international tourists to Cambodia, giving a better boost to the Southeast Asian country's tourism sector.

"It will play a crucial role in enhancing Cambodia's connectivity for travel, tourism, trade, and investment," she said.

Invested by Cambodia Airport Investment Co., Ltd, the 1.5 billion U.S. dollar airport has been developed on an area of 2,600 hectares in southern Kandal and Takeo provinces, about 20 km from the capital Phnom Penh.

Work on the airport project began in 2020, with the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) being the contractor.

Swiss passenger Sophia Bader said it was her first time to visit Cambodia and she was amazed at this huge and modern airport.

Another Swiss passenger Madeleine Gentinetta said she was satisfied with the hospitality and services provided by the airport.

"It's amazing. Our airplane just got a shower because it was one of the first airplanes," she said.

In a post on official social media platforms on Tuesday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said the official launch of Techo International Airport would further broaden Cambodia's connection to the world.

"The aviation sector is one of many ways to connect tourists, businesses, political networks, and multi-purpose missions," he said.

"Cambodia has actively expanded and upgraded its international airports to meet growing travel demand, enhancing connectivity for travelers, especially those visiting Cambodia," he added.

Mao Havannall, minister in charge of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA), said the Techo International Airport, with a dual-4-kilometer runway, is capable of accommodating the landing of the world's largest aircraft such as Airbus A380 and Boeing 747.

The airport is able to handle approximately 13 million passengers a year in the first phase, he added.

With the commencement of the Techo International Airport operations, the old Phnom Penh International Airport was completely closed at midnight on Sept. 9, 2025, as all commercial flights of air passengers and cargos were moved to the TIA, according to the SSCA.