PHNOM PENH: Techo International Airport (TIA), the new airport for Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, conducted final test flights successfully on Friday (Aug 15), a civil aviation spokesperson said.
Sinn Chanserey Vutha, secretary of state and spokesperson for Cambodia's State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, said an Airbus 320 aircraft was used in the test flights between the old Phnom Penh International Airport (PPIA) and the TIA.
He said the flight, carrying a total of 100 passengers, departed from the PPIA for the TIA on Friday morning and returned from the TIA to the PPIA safely.
"In sum, test flights were successful as all equipment and staff members at the airport worked well," Vutha said in an audio message.
Mao Havannall, minister in charge of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, said on Monday that the TIA will start official operations on Sept 9, and its official inauguration ceremony will be held on Oct 20 under the auspices of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.
The TIA is classified as a 4F-level airport, the highest level in the world.
Work on the airport project began in 2020, with the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) being the contractor.
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 Kandal and Takeo provinces, about 20 km from the capital Phnom Penh. - Xinhua
