Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Monday officially inaugurated the kingdom's biggest new airport, Techo International Airport (TIA), marking a significant milestone in the country's aviation expansion.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony, Hun Manet said the 2.3 billion U.S. dollar world-class airport replaced the old Phnom Penh International Airport, which was completely closed.

"The TIA is Cambodia's biggest airport at the present," he said. "I'm confident that the TIA will become a catalyst for Cambodia's economic and tourism growth, helping attract more investors and tourists."

Hun Manet said the 4F-level international airport would facilitate air travel and air cargo transport, further broadening Cambodia's connection to the region and the world.

He added that the airport would become a main passenger and logistics hub in the kingdom.

According to the prime minister, the TIA, with a dual 4 km runway, is capable of accommodating long-haul flights and the landing of all kinds of aircraft.

Mao Havannall, minister in charge of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, said the TIA marked a historic milestone in the development of Cambodia's civil aviation sector.

"It will become a key bridge connecting Cambodia to a broader world and a driving force for Cambodia's economic and tourism growth as well as logistics development," he said.

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

Invested by Cambodia Airport Investment Co., Ltd, the TIA has been developed on an area of 2,600 hectares in southern Kandal and Takeo provinces, more than 20 km from the capital Phnom Penh.

Pung Kheav Se, chairman of Cambodia Airport Investment Corporation, the major shareholder in the TIA, said in Phase 1, a main passenger terminal building, airfields, ancillary buildings, a general aviation and permanent VVIP Terminals, among other supporting infrastructures, had been constructed.

"It is a gateway, an economic catalyst, and a symbol of the aspirations of Cambodia," he said.

Kheav Se said the TIA is built for the future, planned in three phases with the design capacity of 13 million passengers for Phase 1, 30 million passengers for Phase 2 and 50 million passengers for Phase 3.

He said Etihad Airways has started flying directly to TIA since early October and direct flights of Turkish Airlines will be operational between Türkiye's Istanbul and the TIA from Dec. 10.

"This will enhance the connectivity between Phnom Penh and major cities in the Middle East, Europe and Africa," he said.

Thourn Sinan, chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association Cambodia chapter, said the official inauguration of the TIA marked a significant milestone for Cambodia's infrastructure and economic development.

"This new airport will greatly enhance our connectivity, support the growth of tourism, and strengthen Phnom Penh's position as a regional hub," he told Xinhua.

Sinan said the new airport also reflected the government's forward-looking vision, ensuring that the nation's aviation capacity meets future demand while promoting investment and trade.

"I believe the Techo International Airport will play a vital role in driving national progress and opening new opportunities for both domestic and international engagement," he said.

Kin Phea, director-general of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, an arm of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said the state-of-the-art TIA vividly embodies Cambodia's strong ambition to modernize its air transport and logistics infrastructure in line with regional and global standards.

"As the country's largest and most advanced airport, it will significantly enhance connectivity, promote tourism, attract foreign direct investment (FDI), and facilitate international trade," he told Xinhua.

Strategically located near capital Phnom Penh, the TIA will serve as a vital hub linking Cambodia to major cities across Asia and beyond, Phea said.

"Moreover, this new airport represents a powerful engine for inclusive and sustainable growth, strengthening Cambodia's central position within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the global economy," he said.

Cambodia currently has three international airports in operation. They are the TIA, the Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, and the Sihanouk International Airport.