Lao Airlines

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Lao ATR72

Lao Airlines is an airline based in Vientiane, Laos. It is the national airline of Laos, operating domestic and international services. Its main base is Wattay International Airport ^[1].

1 Code data
2 History
3 Destinations
- 3.1 Domestic
- 3.2 International
4 Fleet
5 External links
6 References

[edit] Code data

IATA Code: QV
ICAO Code: LAO
Callsign: LAO^[2]

[edit] History

The airline was established and started operations in September 1976 as Lao Aviation. The name was changed to Lao Airlines in early 2003. It is wholely owned by the Government of Laos ^[1].

Flying mainly to small airfields in mountainous, tropical Laos, the airline acquired a not-too-favourable reputation for safety, several flights being lost over the years. Lately, with better aircraft and airfields, this reputation has been overcome. Reliability is still to come up to international standards, however. ^{[citation needed]}

The main characteristics of this airline are similar to SriLankan Airlines, which is partially owned by Emirates. This airline has a 60% of share owned by China Yunnan Airlines. ^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Destinations

^{[citation needed]} Lao Airlines flies between its base at Vientiane's Wattay International Airport and cities throughout Laos, using the Y-12 and ATR 72. The airline also serves destinations in neighbouring China, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam.

In addition to separately booked tickets, Lao Airlines flights can be included in the Discovery Airpass offered by Bangkok Airways and Siem Reap Airways. Destinations from Vientiane are the following:

[edit] Domestic

Houei Sai (Y-12)
Luang Namtha (Y-12)
Luang Prabang (ATR-72)
Oudomxay (Y-12)
Pakse (ATR-72)
Phongsaly via Luang Prabang (Y-12)
Sam Neua (Y-12)
Sayaboury (Y-12)
Xieng Khuang (ATR-72)

[edit] International

Bangkok (ATR-72)
Chiang Mai via Luang Prabang (ATR-72)
Hanoi (ATR-72)
Kunming (ATR-72)
Siem Reap via Pakse (ATR-72)

[edit] Fleet

In 2003 and 2004, as it was changing its name and making a bid to upgrade its image, Lao Airlines operated an Airbus A320. However since 2005, that aircraft appears to be leased to another airline, Air Memphis.

As of August 2006 the Lao Airlines fleet includes ^[3] :