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Quick Airline Information:

✈Airline IATA* code: QV
✈Airline ICAO* code: LAO 
✈Founded: 1976 
✈Website: www.laoairlines.com
✈Alliance: None
History
Operations and Destinations 🌍
Fleet ✈️
Photo Slide 📷
Airline reviews 
*IATA: (International Air Transport Association)
*ICAO: (International Civil Aviation Organization)

History Menu:

✈Airline Beginnings

In September 1976 the Civil Aviation Company was formed from the merger of existing airlines Royal Air Lao and Lao Air Lines. The company became Lao Aviation in 1979. The national carrier initially started with a mixed fleet of Western aircraft, including the Douglas DC-3 and DC-4, operating on international and domestic routes, as well as a fleet of helicopters for more remote regions. 

The initial airline was formed from Lao Air Lines and Royal Air Lao in 1976 using their former planes. (DC-). (Photo:goodall.com.au)
Royal Air Lao was also merged with Lao Air Lines to form the current airline. This DC-4 was inherited from Royal Air Lao. (Photo:goodall.com.au)
✈Expansion and Development

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. In 1994, the airline upgraded its fleet with ATR-42 turboprop aircraft and by 1995 had acquired an ATR-72 aircraft, adding Xian Y-7 and Harbin Y-12 aircraft to its fleet. A joint venture with China Yunnan Airlines and the Lao government was formed, which re-nationalized Lao Aviation in 2000.

During the 1980's with the influence of China and Russia, the airline was nationalised and adquired soviet aircraft like the Antonov An-24. (Photo:airliners.net)
Lao Aviation used ATR -42 and ATR-72 (pictured) from 1994 and 1995 respectively. (Photo:flickr.com)

In 2003, the airline was re-branded to become Lao Airlines and on 8 November 2011 took delivery of the first of two Airbus A320 aircraft ordered from Airbus, the second A320 arriving in December 2011. 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 are powered by CFM International CFM56 engines.

The newest aircraft type, and biggest for Lao Airlines is the Airbus A320, delivered from 2003. (Photo:airliners.net)
✈Recent History and Growth

The Airbus A320 aircraft fly primarily on international services to Bangkok, Hanoi, Kunming, Guangzhou, Seoul and Busan. Today the Lao Airlines network extends to 22 domestic and international destinations.

New routes are planned for the future, including Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan.


Source: Wikipedia.org + LaoAirlines.com

In October 2012, Lao Airlines took delivery of newer turboprop ATR 72-600 to replace older soviet planes and improve it services.(Photo:Planespotters.net)

Operations and Destinations 🌍:

Lao Airlines is the national airline of Laos, with its main hub in Vientiane, the capital, and also has a strong presence in Luang Prabang, the second main city. It operates domestic as well as international services to countries such as Cambodia, China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Korea. It has plans to further expand operations as tourism to the region increases and the infrastructure of the country develops. It currently serves 22 destinations including domestic flights. It biggest market being China and Thailand. 

 

The airline flies to the following destinations*:

Region 🗺️ Destinations 🌍🌎🌏
✈Laos (domestic)
Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, Muang Xay, Pakse, Phonsavan, Savannakhet, Vientiane
✈China
Changsha, Changzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Jinghong, Kunming
✈Asia
Bangkok, Busan, Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh, Seoul, Siem Reap, Singapore (temporary suspended)
Lao Airlines Route map. (Photo: Lao Airlines)

*Destination list is for reference only. Please check directly with the airline for updates. 

*Note some destinations are only seasonal.*Correct info as of Jan 2019.                                 

Fleet ✈️:

The Airline has now a more modern fleet after completing a fleet renewal programme in the last few years. It now flies it's domestic and regional flights with Turboprop ATR-500/600 and the rest of short and medium routes with Airbus A320 aircraft.

The fleet* of Lao Airlines comprises the following aircraft:

Network  🌐 Aircraft ✈️
✈Short haul and Regional
 ATR 72-500/600 (domestic mostly), Airbus A320
 ✈Medium Haul 
Airbus A320
*Correct fleet info as of Jan 2019. 

Lao Airlines Photo Slide 📷:​

Reviews ⭐:

 Best Airline to fly to Lao👎Limited route network.
Meals and luggage included on all flights👎No long haul routes.
 Comfortable seating👎 Not part of any global alliance for mileage redemption.
Free online check-in and seat selection