Lao Airlines
ການບິນລາວ
การบินลาว
Lao Airlines Logo
IATA ICAO Callsign
QV LAO LAO
Founded10 January 1976 (1976-01-10)
HubsWattay International Airport
Focus citiesLuang Prabang International Airport
Frequent-flyer programChampa Muang Lao
Fleet size11
Destinations23[1]
HeadquartersVientiane, Laos
Key peopleMr Khamla Phommavanh
Employees1,000
Websitewww.laoairlines.com

Lao Airlines State Enterprise[2] (Lao: ລັດວິສາຫະກິດການບິນລາວ; Thai: รัฐวิสาหกิจการบินลาว) is the flag carrier of Laos, headquartered in Vientiane. It operates domestic and international services to countries such as Cambodia, China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. Its main hub is Wattay International Airport in Vientiane.[3] It is subordinate to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.[2]

History

Lao Airlines ATR 72-500 at Wattay International Airport, Vientiane
Lao Airlines ATR 72-200 (RDPL-34132) with plumeria livery at Pakse International Airport, Laos

In September 1976, the company was formed from the merger of existing airlines Royal Air Lao and Lao Air Lines.[4] The company became Lao Aviation in 1979.

In 2000, a joint venture with China Yunnan Airlines and the Lao government was formed which re-nationalized Lao Aviation.

The A320s are the first jet aircraft to be purchased by Lao Airlines and feature a two-class layout seating 126 passengers in the main cabin and 16 in Business Class, and they are powered by CFM International CFM56 engines.[5]

Destinations

As of December 2023, Lao Airlines serves a total of 23 destinations in Asia.[6][7]

Country City Airport Notes Refs
CambodiaPhnom PenhPhnom Penh International AirportTerminated
Siem ReapSiem Reap International AirportAirport Closed
Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport
ChinaBeijingBeijing Capital International Airport
ChangshaChangsha Huanghua International Airport
ChengduChengdu Shuangliu International Airport
ChongqingChongqing Jiangbei International AirportTerminated
ChangzhouChangzhou Benniu International Airport
GuangzhouGuangzhou Baiyun International Airport
HangzhouHangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport
JinghongXishuangbanna Gasa International Airport
KunmingKunming Changshui International Airport
Kunming Wujiaba International AirportAirport Closed
ShanghaiShanghai Pudong International Airport
WenzhouWenzhou Longwan International Airport
JapanFukuokaFukuoka Airport
MashikiKumamoto Airport
LaosAttapeuAttapeu International AirportTerminated
Ban HouayxayBan Huoeisay AirportTerminated
Luang NamthaLouang Namtha Airport
Luang PrabangLuang Prabang International AirportHub
Muang XayOudomsay Airport
PaksePakse International Airport
PhongsaliBoun Neua AirportTerminated
PhonsavanXieng Khouang Airport
SavannakhetSavannakhet Airport
SainyabuliSayaboury AirportTerminated
ThakhekThakhek AirportTerminated
VientianeWattay International AirportHub
Xam NeuaNathong AirportTerminated
SeponXepon AirportTerminated
SingaporeSingaporeChangi AirportTerminated
South KoreaBusanGimhae International AirportTerminated
MuanMuan International AirportTerminated
SeoulIncheon International Airport
ThailandBangkokDon Mueang International AirportTerminated
Suvarnabhumi Airport
Chiang MaiChiang Mai International Airport
Udon ThaniUdon Thani International AirportTerminated
VietnamDa NangDa Nang International AirportTerminated
HanoiGia Lam AirportAirport Closed
Noi Bai International Airport
Ho Chi Minh CityTan Son Nhat International Airport


Codeshare agreements

Lao Airlines has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:[8]

Fleet

As of December 2023, Lao Airlines operates the following aircraft:[9][10]

Lao Airlines Fleet
Aircraft In Service Orders Passengers Notes
J Y Total
Airbus A320-200 4 — 16 126 142
8 150 158
ATR 72-500 4 — — 70 70
ATR 72-600 3 — — 70 70
Total 11 0

Retired fleet

Lao Airlines retired fleet
Aircraft Fleet Introduced Retired Notes
Airbus A320-200 1 2003 2005
ATR 42-300 1 1994 1996
ATR 72-200 2 1996 2011
Boeing 737-200 1 1996 1998

Livery

Lao Airlines aircraft feature a plumeria insignia on their vertical stabilizers. The Plumeria is an official national flower of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. The words "Lao Airlines" are colored in blue.

Accidents and incidents

  • On 1 September 1979, a Lao Aviation Antonov An-26 (registration RDPL-34037) force-landed in a corn field at Ban Mai, Thailand, due to fuel exhaustion after the pilot became disorientated in heavy rain; all 74 passengers and crew survived, but the aircraft was substantially damaged; the aircraft was repaired and flown back to Vientiane on 31 January 1980 where it was written off after crashing on landing.[11][12]
  • On 22 April 1990, a Lao Aviation Antonov An-24RV (registration RDPL-34008) overshot the runway at Luang Namtha Airport after an aborted takeoff; the aircraft collided with a building, killing one; all three on the aircraft survived.[13]
  • On 13 December 1993, a Lao Aviation Harbin Y-12-II (registration RDPL-34117) crashed on approach to Phonesavanh Airport after clipping trees in fog, killing all 18 on board.[14]
  • On 25 May 1998, a Lao Aviation Yakovlev Yak-40 (registration RDPL-34001) crashed in the jungle in heavy rain near Long Tieng, Xiangkhouang Province, killing all 26 on board. The aircraft was carrying a Vietnamese military delegation from Vientiane to Xiangkhouang.[15]
  • On 19 October 2000, Lao Aviation Flight 703, a Harbin Y-12-II (registration RDPL-34130), crashed into mountainous terrain in bad weather while on approach to Sam Neua Airport en route from Vientiane; eight of 17 on board died.[16]
  • On 14 February 2002, Flight 702,[17] a Harbin Y-12-II (registration RDPL-34118) crashed on the runway while taking off from Sam Neua Airport due to a wind gust; all 15 on board survived, but the aircraft was written off; the engines were sent to Singapore to be rebuilt, the fuselage was cut up and sent to Vietnam for scrap metal.[18]
  • On 16 October 2013, Flight 301, an ATR 72-600 (registration RDPL-34233) twin turboprop carrying 44 passengers and 5 crew, crashed into the Mekong River, at about 16:00 local time; all 49 on board died. The aircraft was flying from Vientiane to Pakse in Champasak Province in southern Laos, and was attempting to land in bad weather associated with Typhoon Nari.[19][20]

References

  1. ↑ "Lao Airlines".
  2. 1 2 "Press Release #4 Archived 2013-10-21 at archive.today." (Archive) Lao Airlines. 18 October 2013. Retrieved on 20 October 2013.
  3. ↑ "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 2007-04-03. pp. 104–105.
  4. ↑ "About Lao Airlines". Lao Airlines. Archived from the original on 2014-05-26. Retrieved 2014-05-23.
  5. ↑ "Press releases". airbus. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  6. ↑ Lao Airlines Route Map Archived 2010-12-23 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-06-06. Retrieved 2017-06-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ↑ "Code share flight". Lao Airlines. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Lao Airlines | Lao Airlines Official Website".
  10. ↑ "Lao Airlines Fleet | Airfleets aviation".
  11. ↑ Accident description for RDPL-34037 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 18 October 2013.
  12. ↑ Accident description for RDPL-34037 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 18 October 2013.
  13. ↑ Accident description for RDPL-34008 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 18 October 2013.
  14. ↑ Accident description for RDPL-34117 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 18 October 2013.
  15. ↑ Accident description for RDPL-34001 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 18 October 2013.
  16. ↑ Accident description for RDPL-34130 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 17 October 2013.
  17. ↑ "Crash of a Harbin Yunshuji Y-12-II in Sam Neua". Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives.
  18. ↑ Accident description for RDPL-34118 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 18 October 2013.
  19. ↑ "Lao Airlines plane crashes, 44 killed". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  20. ↑ "Plane crashes in Laos, 39 people killed: Thai TV". Reuters. 16 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
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