Wattay Airport To Be Upgraded

An agreement for the 302 billion kip (US$37.68 million) Wattay International Airport Upgrade Project was signed between the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and China CAMC Engineering Company on Wednesday in Vientiane.

The project includes runway renovation, parking space expansion, drainage system renovations and road upgrades. According to a handout provided at the ceremony, the project aims to improve and expand apron 02 and apron 03 to provide 25 aircraft parking stands, improve the airport drainage system, and expand the turn pad of the runway to meet the requirements of Code-E aircraft operation.

It also aims to upgrade the safety area of the runway to meet the safety requirements of airport operation, replace the approach lighting system, and upgrade the airport perimeter road and access road. It will also include construction of office buildings for the Lao Civil Aviation Department and the Lao Airport Authority.

The government decided to invest in the project to facilitate the 9th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) which will be hosted by Laos at the end of next year. The project construction period is scheduled for 20 months, but the main work will be completed before the start of the meeting. The company has already started work under its own budget, including a topographic survey, geographic investigations and ongoing design plans. The company is now working on two projects for the ASEM – the Don Chan land development investment project, which will provide 50 villas to accommodate attending leaders, and the Wattay airport upgrade project.

The Lao government has approved four development projects in Vientiane for the ASEM, including the construction of villas in Phakao village, Xaythany district, and a convention centre at Km 5 to hold over 2,000 people.

Source: Vientiane Times