Bangkok Airways opens direct flight to Pakxe, Southern Laos

Bangkok Airways has begun two new weekly direct flights from Bangkok to Champassak province in the past two weeks, hoping to deliver more tourists to the area.

Director General of the Civil Aviation Department, Mr Yakua Lopangkao, said that under the bilateral air service agreement between the Lao and Thai governments, Lao Airlines can fly to Thailand and Thai air services can fly into Laos . The agreement has been upgraded each year to ensure cooperation between the two countries in this sector meets market demand...more

Mr Yakua said the Lao government needed Bangkok Airways to provide direct flights from Bangkok to Champassak province right now because Lao Airlines cannot provide this service.

“We want to provide the convenience of these flights for entrepreneurs and tourists who want arrive in Champassak in good time,” Mr Yakua said.

He said that in the past, it took entrepreneurs or tourists about two days to get from Bangkok to Champassak province. The direct Bangkok Airways flight takes only a bit more than an hour.

The Bangkok Airways flights, from Bangkok to Champassak to Siem Reap, fly Tuesdays and Sundays.

He added that the flights are a good way to promote tourism in the province, a World Heritage site.

He added that although market demand may not be high to begin with, it should improve after six or seven months when passengers learn about the flights.

While the Lao government has opened the way for the new direct flights, Mr Yakua said the government had set a limit of 450 passengers per week. Lao Airlines must provide the service for any more passengers after they open this service.

A representative from Bangkok Airways said since the direct flights began on April 10, they have been about 30 percent booked, but advance bookings mean that about 45 percent of seats will be filled in the next month.

Bangkok Airways has run direct flights from Bangkok to Luang Prabang for four years.

Four foreign air services fly direct flights into Laos currently, in addition to the Bangkok Airways flights.

Thai Airways flies from Bangkok to Vientiane , Vietnam Airlines flies Hanoi to Vientiane , China Eastern flies Kunming to Vientiane , and Siem Reap Airways flies Pakxe to Siem Reap.

Mr Yakua said many airways serving Laos provided better choices for passengers. It is government policy to open the door for service and trade, he added.

By Soudalath Phonpachith
vientianetimes