New ATRs from Lao Air

State-run Lao Airlines will buy two more ATR72-600 aircraft this year to expand both domestic and international routes.

According to the airline vice chairman, Sengpraseuth Mathouchanh, the first aircraft will arrive in Vientiane in May and the second in November this year.

The airline also plans to open services from Vientiane to Yangon in Myanmar and Malaysia once the new aircraft are delivered.

In 2015, Lao Airlines plans to buy two more Airbus 321s.

Mid-last year the airline lost an ATR72 in a fatal accident at Pakse airport a loss that forced the airline to postpone expansion plans.

The carrier is operating services to Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, China, and South Korea with the 158-seat Airbus A320.

Established in 1976, the national carrier’s fleet currently comprises of 14 aircraft; four A320s, four ATR72-500s, two ATR72-600s and four MA60s.

The number of passengers increased from 275,000 in 2006 to over 600,000 in 2012 and an estimated 1 million in 2013.

Lao Airlines has code share arrangements with Thai Airways and Vietnam Airlines, and interline agreements with 20 airlines including China Airlines, China Eastern, Korean Air, EVA Air, Silk Air, Qantas, Hahn Air and Bangkok Airways.

Visit us at Threeland Travel Laos to get further information about traveling around the world and exploring Laos; to have access to the best travel services and to meet our professional consultants who're always available for help. For any inquiry please contact us.

A warm welcome from Threelanders.

Read More

Vientiane Service to be started by Bangkok Airways

Bangkok Airways

From Threeland Travel's Blog - September 2012

Bangkok Airways announced, Tuesday, it will start flying to Vientiane, the capital city of Laos effective 1 December.

The carrier has been operating a daily flight to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang since 2001. It also started a flight to Pakse during 2007 and halted it due to poor traffic.

The new service will depart Bangkok at 0815 and arrive in Vientiane at 0930. The return flight will depart at 1010 and arrive in Bangkok at 1125.

Reservations are now available with the lowest fare under its Web Saver category priced at Bt7,615 all inclusive and its business Blue Ribbon Class fare priced at Bt19,825. Three carriers are now operating flights to the capital city, Vientiane — Thai Airways International, Lao Airlines (double daily each) and the new Lao private carrier, Lao Central Airlines (daily).

There are no low-cost airlines serving the route mainly because of a reluctance of the Lao government to allow budget airlines access to routes that are profitable for its national airline.

Lao Central sells the cheapest fare at Bt2,400 for a roundtrip fare for the first 20 seats, but this will end 30 September. After the promotion the lowest fare will be Bt4,800 until the end of October. The regular fares start from Bt6,045.

THAI’s 52nd Anniversary promotion ending 30 September quotes Bt8,055 for an economy class fare and Bt14,180, for business class. After the promotional period, the economy fares will start from Bt10,880 for economy class and Bt15,855 for business class. Laos’ national carrier, Lao Airlines sells at around Bt8,200.

In addition, Bangkok Airways is running a ‘Fly Mid-Week, Receive Double Points’ campaign for frequent flyers who travel to Chiang Mai and Phuket on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during September and November.

Visit us at Threeland Travel Laos to get further information about traveling around the world and exploring Laos; to have access to the best travel services and to meet our professional consultants who're always available for help. For any inquiry please contact us.

A warm welcome from Threelanders.

Read More

Lao Airlines expansion

Laos Airlines

From Threeland Travel Indochina's Blog - June 2012

Lao Airlines commercial director, Saleum Tayarath, informed that this year the carrier will launch charter services to Seoul in Korea in August and three weekly scheduled services to Guangzhou by November.

According to the statistics from the Tourism Development Department of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, tourist arrivals from Korea soared 42.66%, as the low-cost Jin Air in Korea recently started two weekly scheduled services after operating charter flights. In the China market, China Eastern Airlines has been operating flights from Kunming and Nanning to Vientiane, while Laos Airlines currently offers flights to Kunming and Jinghong. Arrivals from China grew significantly at 33.7%.

Regarding network expansion, Mr. Saleum said the carrier was dealing with Airbus to obtain A321 or A320 aircraft to operate medium-haul flights. In the current situation, the carrier operates 10 aircraft – two A320s, four ATR72s and four MA-60s.

This expansion will play an important role in improving the flight service quality and boosting North East Asian visitors to enter Laos market, making it an emerging tourism site in Asia. Tourists can easily opt for multiple choices of flight routes with lower expenses and shorter itinerary, together with better customer services. If you want to access more information or make any enquiry about this field, please contact us or visit: Threeland Travel's website.

Read More