Lao Airlines will soon open new routes to the Republic of Korea and
China as part of the airline's expansion goals in response to growing market
demand.
Flights will operate from
Vientiane to both Seoul and Busan, with both sectors expected to begin service
in December this year. A flight from Vientiane to Guangzhou in China is also
planned, possibly as early as November.
Director of Lao Airlines'
Commercial Department Saleum Tayarath told Vientiane Times last week the
national carrier will use the 142-seat Airbus on these routes.
“There is strong passenger demand
for our airline to fly these routes,” he said, noting that although Korea's Jin
Air runs a charter flight between Vientiane and Seoul, it will not affect passenger
numbers on Lao Airlines flights.
“We have a different strategy and
market. Our team in Korea conducted a survey and found that 70 to 80 per cent
of passengers would choose to travel with our airline,” Saleum said.
The Laos-Korea flights will run three
times a week but Saleum was unable to say on which days as the schedule is yet
to be finalised.
More people in Korea and Laos are
opting to visit each country for holidays or business purposes, he said.
Koreans come to Laos not only to see its many tourist attractions, but also to
do business here.
In the first quarter of this
year, about 14,000 Koreans visited Laos, a 46.66 per cent increase compared to
the same period last year. Meanwhile, about 2,000 Lao nationals have visited
Korea so far this year.
China is another potential market
for Lao Airlines, with affordable flights. Lao Airlines operates two routes to
China, from Vientiane to Kunming and from Luang Prabang to Xieng Houng.
Mr Saleum said the
Vientiane-Kunming sector is now carrying a lot of passengers after Lao Airlines
bought two Airbus planes this year. This success inspired the opening of the
Vientiane-Guangzhou sector.
“The new Airbus has created a lot
of passenger confidence in our airline,” he said.
In 2001, some 500,000 people travelled
with Lao Airlines and this figure could rise to about 900,000 this year, Saleum
predicted.
Lao Airlines is currently looking
at whether to buy or rent another Airbus this year, to allow for further
growth.
Saleum said the airline is not
only focused on market expansion but also on bringing its standards in line
with those accepted internationally.
Lao Airlines must position itself
to compete in 2015 when an open skies policy within the Asean region comes into
force under the policy of market integration.
Currently, Lao Airlines operates
flights mainly to other Asean member countries including Thailand, Vietnam,
Cambodia and Singapore. It also operates charter flights to and from Japan,
aiming to boost visitor numbers from that country.
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