Lao Airlines

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Lao Airlines
IATA QV	ICAO LAO	Callsign LAO
Founded		1976
Hubs		Wattay International Airport, Vientiane
Focus cities		Luang Prabang
Fleet size		4
Destinations		14
Headquarters		Vientiane, Laos
Key people
Website: http://www.laoairlines.com

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].

Contents 1 History 2 Destinations 2.1 Domestic 2.2 International 3 Fleet 4 External links 5 References

[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
• Luang Namtha
• Luang Prabang
• Oudomxay
• Pakse
• Phongsaly via Luang Prabang
• Sam Neua
• Sayaboury
• Xieng Khuang

[edit] International

• Bangkok
• Chiang Mai via Luang Prabang
• Hanoi
• Kunming
• Siem Reap via Pakse

[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 ^[2] :

• 1 Harbin Y-12
• 2 ATR 72-200
• 2 Xian MA60

[edit] External links

• Official Lao Airlines site
• Paris-based travel agent masquerading as Lao Airlines
• Lao Airlines Passenger Opinions
• Lao Airlines Domestic Flights Schedule by Laos Airlines

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} Flight International 5-11 April 2005
2. ^ Flight International, 3-9 October 2006