Lao Airlines Announces New Vientiane-Phnom Penh Flight

Source: Vientiane Times

Lao Airlines will start operating flights between Vientiane and Phnom Penh in Cambodia, hoping that direct air travel between the two capitals will bring more tourists and investors to Laos.

Flights will start on March 19, departing Wattay International Airport three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The flight time is one hour and 20 minutes and will be served by A320 aircraft.

Flights are scheduled to depart Vientiane at 8:30am and arrive in Phnom Penh at 9:50am and on the return leg will depart Phnom Penh at 10:50am and arrive in Vientiane at 12:10pm.

Speaking at a meeting on Friday, the Managing Director of Lao Airlines, Mr Khamla Phommavanh, said “If passenger demand increases, we will consider adding more flights in the future.”

International travel and tourism is booming, he added, especially in the ASEAN region, with air travel being tourists’ preferred form of transport.
“We looked into the feasibility of operating flights between these two cities, to make travel easier for both tourists and business operators,” he said.

The study indicated that there was an increase in demand for travel between Laos and Cambodia, particularly in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, so the decision was made to schedule flights between the two capitals.

During the meeting to launch the new route, 15 ticket agencies that met sales targets set for 2023 were presented with honours and certificates by Lao Airlines.
The national flag carrier is also opening up other routes to serve the expected influx of visitors during Visit Laos Year 2024, with flights also planned on the Savannakhet-Bangkok and Vientiane-Danang sectors.

Savannakhet-Bangkok flights will begin on March 15 and are scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Lao Airlines operates international flights to Thailand, Vietnam, China, Cambodia, and South Korea.

The airline also operates domestic flights between Vientiane and the provinces of Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, Champassak, Xieng Khuang and Huaphan.