Serving the Lao PDR since 1976
Founded in 1976 as the national carrier of
the newly established Lao PDR, Lao Airlines was originally
known as the Civil Aviation Company and was formed from
merger of existing airlines Royal Air Lao and Lao Air Lines.
The company became Lao Aviation in 1979 and has operated
under that identity right to March this year.
The Lao national carrier initially started
life with a mixed fleet of Western aircraft, including the
Douglas DC-3 and DC-4, operating on international and
domestic routes, as a fleet of helicopters enabling access
to the remote regions. Reflecting the country's closer links
with its Eastern neighbours, a re-equipment exercise was
undertaken in the 1980s, with the fleet then primarily
composed of aircraft from China and the Soviet Union. For
international services to Bangkok, Hanoi and Phnom Penh
these included the Antonov An-24.
The decision to upgrade to the newer
generation of European turboprop aircraft being produced by
ATR (Avions de Transport Regional) in France was taken in
1994, when the first 50-seat ATR42 entered service with the
airline which is removed from the service on 1995 and
immediately replacing by a first 70-seat ART72 aircraft and
the second on 1999, with both ATRs forming the backbone of
the carrie's fleet for international and major domestic
services up to today. These highly relihable aircraft are
complemented on routes to remote areas within the country by
the Y-7 and Y-12, seating 50 passengers respectively.
With the arrival of the A320, Lao Airlines
is moving into a new phase of its development, offering
passengers a faster, more comfortable link to the world. The
aircraft will fly primarily on international services to
Bangkok, Hanoi, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Kunming, as well
as on the main domestic route linking Vientiane with Luang
Prabang.
Today the Lao Airlines network extends to
seven international destinations and 11 locations within the
Lao PDR. New routes are planned for the future, including
within the CLMV economic zone of Cambodia, Lao PDR. Myanmar
and Vietnam, as well as to Hong Kong and Singapore.
The Lao Airlines
fleet
Lao Airlines passengers flying on all
international routes are new offered service either aboard
the Airbus A320 or the Francoltalian ATR72. The aircraft
also operate on selected domestic routes, notably between
Vientiane and the world heritage city of Luang Prabang.
A320:
The new flagship of the Lao Airlines fleet, The A320 is part
of the most modern single aisle jet aircraft family
available today. Manufactured by Europe,s Airbus, the A320
family has become the fastest selling product line in its
size category and has been selected by more than 110
airlines worldwide.
For passengers, the A320 offers the widest
single-aisle fuselage on the market. This allows for
top-of-the-range comfort with wider seats and aisles.
Furthermore, the superior cabin size and shape allows larger
overhead stowage to be fitted for greater convenience, as
well as faster boarding and disembarkation.
For operators such as Lao Airlines, the
A320 features the latest on-board technologies, leading to
reduced fuel burn and maintenance costs. Additionally, the
aircraft's proven record of dispatch reliability will ensure
that the airline maintain a punctual network schedule.
The A320 can fly more than 5,000 kilometres
non-stop, enabling direct service from Vientiane to any
destination in North or South East Asia. The Lao Airlines
aircraft is powered by two CFM56 engines manufactured by
Franco-American joint venture DFM International.
ATR42
Manufactured by the Franco-Italian ATR group, the ATR72 is
part of the world's most successful 40-70 seat turboprop
aircraft family. Altogether, more than 650 ATRs have been
delivered to over 100 airlines in 65 countries. The ATR family is built around the design
of a high-wing, twin turboprop aircraft optimized from the
start for efficiency, operational flexibility and passenger
comfort.
The ATR benefits from the widest cabin in is its
class, providing maximum passenger space and setting new
standards of comfort.
In Lao Airlines configuration the ATR72 has
a single class lay-out seating 70 passengers and is equipped
with two PW124B engines. The versatile aircraft is
especially well adapted to operating conditions found in the
Lao PDR., with exceptional short-field performance
capabilities.
Y-12
For some of the more remote regions in the Lao PDR the only
viable links with the main centres of the country are by
air, with many mountainous locations served only by short
landing strips. For these operations, Lao Airlines operates
a fleet of Y-12 aircraft manufactured by Harbin Aircraft
Industry Group of China. Powered by two PT6-A27 engines from
Pratt & Whitney Canada, the aircraft can seat up to 17
passengers.
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