PHNOM PENH—Set across 2,600 hectares, Cambodia’s Techo International Airport (KTI) is nearing completion, with plans to open in July. Designed to reflect Khmer architectural heritage, the new airport is expected to accommodate up to 15 million passengers annually.

Located 30 kilometers from Phnom Penh International Airport, KTI straddles the border of Kandal and Takeo provinces. The $1.6 billion project is 95 percent complete, according to Charles Vann, Director of Cambodia Airport Investment.

“KTI will be the largest airport in the country, featuring distinctive Khmer identity and culture,” Vann said. “A large Buddha statue and 200 stone sculptures will be on display, enhancing the airport’s visual appeal.”

The airport’s design is entirely Khmer-inspired, with a team of designers from the U.K. bringing the vision to life.

“Cambodia's Techo International Airport, a large architectural project, incorporates Khmer style and is set to handle 15 million passengers in its first phase,” Vann stated on March 21 during a site tour. “The airport is designed in 100 percent Khmer style and showcases Khmer culture from start to finish.”

Passengers awaiting flights will have the opportunity to visit a traditional Khmer wooden house, commonly known as a "rich man’s house." The airport's design also emphasizes a spacious interior with minimal pillars to enhance the passenger experience.

More than 15,000 workers and 200 Cambodian engineers are working to meet the scheduled opening date, Vann added.

Planned in three phases, Techo International Airport is projected to handle up to 50 million passengers by 2050. The facility is designed to accommodate large, long-haul aircraft, including the Airbus A380-800 and Boeing 747-800.

Earlier this year, CNN recognized Techo International Airport as one of the leading global architecture projects to watch in 2025. The network highlighted its distinctive features, such as a gridded steel shell, structural timber trees roof, and lush tropical greenery, with gates accessible via airfoil-shaped wings.

Construction of Techo Takhmao International Airport began in 2018. The Cambodian government has contributed 10 percent of the investment through the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, while the remaining 90 percent comes from the local conglomerate Overseas Cambodian Investment Corporation.