New £1.1billion airport to open in overlooked country named ‘best value’ for tourists
A MASSIVE new airport is opening in a destination often overlooked by Brits, despite being sandwiched by two popular holiday hotspots.
Cambodia is often forgotten about with holidaymakers from the UK, who opt for the nearby Thailand for their long-haul holiday instead.
This could soon change thanks to a huge international airport set to open in the country.
Techo Takhmao International Airport will open in Phnom Penh around 12 miles from the city centre.
First announced back in 2018, the 280million sqft airport will have four floors and a huge central passenger terminal.
Along with 22 gates – that can fit up to 40 aircraft – there will also be a huge central garden.
And a pretty roof canopy with “structural trees” will tower 85ft over the airport,
The airport, set to cost $1.5billion (£1.1billion) will open in three phases.
The first phase, set to open next year, will welcome up to 13million passengers.
This will be followed by an increased capacity to 30milllion passengers by 2030 and 50million passengers by 2050.
It will become the ninth largest airport in the world when it opens.
It will also be a “class 4F” airport which is the highest class there is.
Foster + Partners, who have designed the airport, said it has been “inspired by the rich heritage and history of Cambodia and imagined as contemporary representation of Cambodian culture.”
The project hopes to “improve Cambodia’s connectivity with the rest of the world”.
Potential airlines and flight routes are yet to be confirmed.
Brits currently wanting to fly to Cambodia can do for as little as £208 each way.
However, this requires a stopover, often in Beijing, Bangkok or Singapore, with the fastest route taking just under 14 hours.
And once out there, its an affordable holiday destination too.
How to do a holiday in South East Asia
The Sun’s Trisha Harbord revealed how to explore Cambodia – via the Mekong River.
“I joined AmaWaterways’ Charms of the Mekong just outside Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, in the middle of a three-week trip living out of a suitcase.
“Split into small groups, we were taken by bus, boat or tuk-tuk to landmarks, monuments and temples or walked from the ship up the river bank to remote villages.
“Thirteen miles upstream, we crossed the border into Cambodia and sailed on to Phnom Penh.
“The French-built capital boasts spectacular buildings including the Royal Palace, housing a pagoda with 5,000 floor tiles made out of silver.
“Around 95 per cent of Cambodians are Buddhists and there are temples, pagodas and statues everywhere, together with orange-robed monks ready to bless you for a dollar or two.”
A panel of travel experts named Phnom Penh as being the best value for money, where you can experience local attractions such as the Wat Phnom Temple for as little as £1.
And it isn’t just Cambodia getting a new mega airport in the next few years.
King Salman International Airport, set to open in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia by 2030, will become the world’s biggest airport.
Also being designed by Foster + Partners, the massive airport will have a six runways with as many as 120million passengers at first.
This will rise to 185million passengers by 2050.
The Maldives is also getting a new £620million expansion with space for a new passenger terminal and seaplane jetties.
And we’ve rounded up five new airports set to open across Europe.