Former Phnom Penh Airport to Serve as Backup Hub and Public Park, PM

Terry Felix On April 19, 2026 - 6:10 pm In Asia Pacific 1mn Read

PHNOM PENH, April 19, 2026 — Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said the former Phnom Penh International Airport site will remain state-owned and will not be sold to private investors, outlining plans to convert the area into a public recreational space while retaining its aviation reserve function.

In a statement posted late Sunday on his official Facebook page, Hun Manet said authorities had temporarily opened the airport grounds during the Khmer New Year holiday, allowing residents to enter for leisure activities and exercise.

He said the holiday opening also served as a trial phase to assess future improvements, including infrastructure upgrades, landscaping and tree planting, ahead of a broader permanent reopening for daily public use.

“The Phnom Penh International Airport (Pochentong) will not be sold to any private company,” Hun Manet said.

He added the site would be preserved as state property and used for two purposes: as a backup airport facility and as a public space for recreation and sports.

The announcement comes as Cambodia shifts major commercial air traffic to the new Techo International Airport south of Phnom Penh, while considering future uses for the older airport complex.

Transforming the former airport into public green and recreational space could help address limited open areas in the rapidly expanding capital, where urban development has intensified in recent years.

No timeline was given for the permanent public opening, but Hun Manet said preparations were under way for broader community access “in the near future.”