Airlines in Laos have improved in recently years, but the domestic market is still quite limited. There are two main domestic and international airports, Wattay International Airport and Luang Pranbang International Airport.

Domestic flights

There are around 10 domestic routes in Laos, operated by Lao airlines and Lao Skyway. The main hub is Wattay International Airport, located 3kms from the center of Lao’s capital, Vientiane. Almost domestic flights depart from this airport to other ones.

The airlines owned four aircraft of Airbus A320 – 214 with 8 business class seats and 140 economy class seats, three aircraft of ATR 72-600 with 70 economy class seats and four aircraft of ATR 72 – 500 with 70 economy class seats.

1. Lao airlines

Lao Airlines, operated by government takes the important role of this country’s air traveling. The airlines, based in Vientiane, fly to around 8 destinations, Luangnamtha, Oudomxay, Luang Prabang, Xiengkhouang, Pakse, Savannakhet and Attopeu, from Vientiane and operate one route between Luang Prabang and Pakse.

The airline owned four aircraft of Airbus A320 – 214 with 8 business class seats and 140 economy class seats, three aircraft of ATR 72-600 with 70 economy class seats and four aircraft of ATR 72 – 500 with 70 economy class seats.

Lao Airlines’ terms are quite similar to other traditional airline over the world.

– Children and infant fare: passengers at the age of 2 to 11 year old are required to buy child tickets, at around a haft adult ticket. An infant can’t occupy a seat alone and have to buy a infant ticket, at about a third adult tickets.

– Baggage allowance: Normally, Lao Airlines fare includes 7kgs on hand baggage, 20kgs in-check baggage (10kgs for children).

– In-flight services, passengers are served drink and meal (snack for short flight).

Besides ticket agents, ticket booking online is available and payment by credit card with Visa or Master card is accepted, so it is very convenient for you to get a ticket of this airlines.

Some reviews of this airline:

– Sometimes you have to fly with an old aircraft although recently fleets of this airline have improved significantly.

– A number of flights are limited so if having plan, you should book ticket as soon as possible.

– Although there are some disadvantages, the flights usually depart on time and crews in flight are professional and friendly.

2. Lao Skyway

Lao Skyway, formerly known as Lao Air, is a private airline with its headquarters at Wattay Airport in Vientiane. The number of flights, operated by this airline, is far more limited. The airlines serves flights to six destination in Laos; Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Bokeo, Udomxay, Laungnamtha and Houaphan.

There are notes of terms and conditions, need to know when travelling by Lao Skyway airlines:

-Free baggage allowance per passenger, Adult or Child excluding Infant: checked baggage 15kgs and hand baggage 5kgs. With infant, checked baggage, hand baggage combined 7kgs. Excess baggage will be charged 15000 LAK per kilogram and will not be guaranteed to be transported on the same flight. This will depend on the load factor of that particular flight.

–  Children and infant fare: passengers at the age of 2 to 11 year old are required to buy child tickets, at around a haft adult tickets. An infant can’t occupy a seat alone and have to buy a infant ticket, at about a third adult tickets.

Booking online is also available, you can book tickets of this airlines at the website: https://www.laoskyway.com

International flights

Beside Lao Airlines, there are many airlines such as Air Asia, Thai Smile, Bangkok Airways, Vietnam airline, China Southern airline, operating flights from Laos to other country. The most convenient international gateway to Laos is Bangkok. There are many flights for this route. It is cheaper to take an indirect flight to Bangkok with a stop on the way. From Bangkok, you also get planes, trains or buses to Laos.

1. From Laos to Asia

Laos connect with regional countries by air quiet well, such as Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, China and South Korea. There are many airlines operating flights to serve these routes.

• Vientiane – Bangkok

This route is the most popular one from Laos to another countries over the world. There are a range of ticket price for you choose. You can get the cheapest ticket from Air Asia, a budget airlines – not serve meal in – flight and not including check baggage free. With Thai Airways, you can get a high full quality service at the most expensive fare. Besides that, there are four airlines operating the flight route. Everyday, there are around ten flights cover Vientiane – Bangkok route.

• Vientiane – Singapore

There are around three daily Vientiane to Singapore, operated by Singapore Airlines, Silk Airs and Lao Airlines, serve Vientiane – Singapore route.

• Vientiane – Hanoi

It takes around an hour to get Hanoi (the capital of Vietnam) from Vientiane. There are five flights, owned by Lao Airlines, Vietnam Airlines and Cambodia Angkor, serves passengers through this route. Fare of these flights is quite similar.

• Vientiane – Phnom Penh

There are three airlines, Lao Airlines, Vietnam Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air, providing flights for this route. Three airlines have share – code so they can rearrange passengers to other flights, different from original flights, with same time.

• Luang Prabang – Siem Reap

If you want to fly from Luang Prabang from Siem Reap, Vietnam Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air seem to be the most popular choices for you.

• Vientiane – Seoul

The connection between Vientiane to Seoul is good although this route is so long, which takes about five hours. There are much more than five flights for this route from T’way Air, Jin Air, Jeju Air and Hahn Air Systems.

2. Flights from Laos to Europe

• From Vientiane to Paris (Laos – France)

There are many one stop flights from Vientiane to Paris, which transit in Hanoi, Bangkok, Kunming, Seoul and Guangzhou. With Thai Airways, it takes the shortest time, comparing to the others.

• From Vientiane to London (Laos – United Kingdom

There are around ten flights from Vientiane to London, which transit on one stop. It takes 16 hours to 30 hours for this route.

• From Vientiane to New York (Laos – USA)

China Southern serves a flight for this route, which transit at Guangzhou. It takes around one day from Vientiane to New York.

• From Vientiane to Vancouver (Laos – Canada)

• From Vientiane to Sydney (Laos – Australia)