KK Lee 5 Report post Posted August 9, 2011 Lao Airlines set to open Vientiane-Singapore direct flight Lao Airlines is to launch direct flights from Vientiane to Singapore at the end of the year, giving a major boost to economic cooperation between the two Asean members. Lao Airlines Planning and Cooperation Department Head Mr Noudeng Chanthaphasouk said yesterday that the company had filed a request with Singaporean authorities to open a representative office in Singapore. “Singapore has approved our request in principle,” he told Vientiane Times yesterday, adding that the company has already appointed the representative office head for Singapore, who will begin work next month on preparing for the launch of the three-hour route. Mr Noudeng said that the company will use an Airbus A320 aircraft to fly the Wattay to Changi International Airport route, adding that the 140 seat French-built aircraft will arrive in Vientiane in October before the route takes off in November. He said that the airline will operate three flights a week from Vientiane to Singapore on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays after market research showed that demand for a direct flight between Laos and Singapore is on the increase due to the strengthened relations and economic cooperation between the two nations. The decision means that direct flights between the two countries will return for first time since SinAir of Singapore cancelled the route in the 1990s. Mr Noudeng said that Lao Airlines had conducted a feasibility study for the route; finding out the majority of customers would be diplomats, business people and international tourists wanting to visit Laos via Changi International Airport. “Changi International Airport is one of the top transit airports in the region and the new flight will mean it is now possible to take passengers directly from the airport to Laos,” he said. He also said a large number of Lao people living in the United States, Canada and Europe would fly to Singapore before continuing on a direct flight to Vientiane, adding that the new route will make travel cheaper. Singaporean investment is increasing in Laos including the construction of an extension to the Talat Sao Shopping Mall in Vientiane, which is expected to open by the end of this year. Another Singaporean firm also plans to build a new market near Sikhai market in Sikhottabong district, Vientiane. According to a report from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Singapore is the 10th largest foreign investor in Laos with an investment value of about US$113 million from 2000 to 2009. The Lao government is working hard to directly connect Laos to other Asean capital cities in order to reduce the over reliance on Thailand as a transit hub for Laos-bound travellers. The closure of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport during political unrest a few years ago led directly to a reduction of the number of international tourists in Laos. Lao Airlines also reopened Vientiane-Xishuangbanna direct flights in July after the route was closed due to low passenger numbers a few years ago. By Times Reporters (Latest Update August 09, 2011) http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/free_Lao%20Airlines%20set%20t.htm Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Naim 6 Report post Posted August 9, 2011 I love QV, see my Laos stories: http://m.naim.my/vientiane-to-luang-prabang-with-lao-airlines/ http://m.naim.my/luang-prabang-and-back-to-vientiane/ === Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kris Kim 0 Report post Posted August 9, 2011 It great to see an A320 in Lao Airlines colours again! How exciting for the airline! But where is the A320 coming from? It better not be VN! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KC Sim 2 Report post Posted August 9, 2011 There may have been slight inaccuracies in the report. Lao Airlines is actually going to take on lease an Airbus A319 with 16 Business Class seats and 126 Economy Class seats for the Vientiane - Singapore route. The representative office in Singapore is Maple Aviation Services - the same company representing TransAsia Airways. I remember the time when Lao Airlines leased an Airbus A320 from Vietnam Airlines, a lease that lasted only a very short time. I hastily booked myself on a flight from Bangkok to Vientiane but my true final destination was the beautiful town of Luang Prabang. There in this beautiful town, the people were most gentle, gracious and wonderful and the quality of conservation of the many temples was absolutely stunning. Those who love woven fabric too will fall in love with what Luang Prabang has to offer. I hope that this new route by Lao Airlines prove to be viable and more people could be enticed to visit Laos via Singapore. KC Sim Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KK Lee 5 Report post Posted November 17, 2011 RDPL-34188 Lao Central Airlines RDPL-34189 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
