en.Wedoany.com Reported - After 12 years of diplomatic negotiations, Cambodia and the United States have officially signed an "Open Skies" air transport agreement. The draft agreement was finalized at a high-level meeting in Phnom Penh, attended by U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Hunt VanderToll and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol. This legal framework paves the way for potential direct commercial flights between U.S. cities and Cambodia.

Meanwhile, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has approved a $100 million strategic financing commitment to upgrade Cambodia's major aviation infrastructure. Under a parallel trade agreement, Air Cambodia is negotiating the purchase of up to 20 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to supplement its long-haul and regional fleet, directly expanding bilateral trade, tourism opportunities, and international corporate investment.

Although the diplomatic framework has been finalized, the immediate launch of direct flights still faces two prerequisites: Cambodia's State Secretariat of Civil Aviation must obtain a Category 1 rating from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program to demonstrate compliance with global safety oversight standards; and airlines must actively build and cultivate market demand to ensure profitability on long-haul routes connecting North America and Cambodia.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet inaugurated the new international gateway, the Techo International Airport (KTI), located in the capital, in late 2025. The airport is operated by France's VINCI Airports, with construction support from advisors including ATKINS, Heerim Architects, Singapore Changi Airport, and construction firms from Cambodia, France, and China. Pung Kheav Se, Chairman of Cambodia Airport Investment Co., Ltd. (CAIC) and Overseas Cambodian Investment Corporation (OCIC), noted that Techo International Airport is a symbol of Cambodia's progress, reflecting the country's growing importance as a hub for travel, trade, and tourism in Southeast Asia. The airport is a joint venture between CAIC and the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA).

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