Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Lao Central Airlines is planning to resume commercial flights before end of 2015 when Laos now a member of World Trade Organization (WTO) becomes an active member of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).
Besides the targeted fleet of four Sukhoi SSJ100 jets that it will own by mid-2015 including one existing SSJ100 jet stranded at Wattay Airport, Lao Central Airlines plans to purchase eight Boeing B737 Max and three or four long-range Boeing B777-200 jets so that it will be able to launch long-haul flights to Russia and Europe in the long-term.
Currently, Russia and Laos are in discussions to open flight corridors between Russian cities Vladivostok, Moscow and Vientiane. Vientiane will be an alternative gateway for smaller Russian carriers' future flights to cities in Cambodia and Vietnam and Lao Central Airlines will be able to launch flights to Russia from Vientiane.
The Chairman for Lao Central Airlines, also Chairman of the airline's parent company Phongsavanh Group, Prof. Dr Od Phongsavanh, explained the reasons of flight resumption delays to The Vientiane Times. He said the airline is planning to buy more aircraft such as B777-200 aircraft, hire pilots from Europe and build the airline's first own airport. It hopes to replicate AirAsia's KLIA LCCT and Bangkok Airways' Samui Airport success stories in Laos.
Dr. Od said the Lao Government has accepted Lao Central Airlines' proposal to build private airports with possible locations under study. The Lao Government aims to see an airport built in each Lao province within the next five years. Therefore, it has not revoked the Lao private airline's Air Operator Certificate (AOC). It regards the airline as an active contributor to Lao civil aviation development.
Lao Central Airlines CEO Mr Somboun Phongsavanh said the airline is seeking more information from British Airways and Lufthansa expertise to help the airline identify its weak and strong points before it proceeds to become a public-listed national airline.
Lao Central Airlines plans to resume flights to Don Mueang and Luang Prabang and partner with Khon Kaen Airport in Thailand on launching Indochinese tourist flights between Khon Kaen, Vientiane, Danang and Siem Reap before expanding overseas to include international flights from Vientiane to Phnom Penh, Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Naypidaw and Hong Kong.
Khon Kaen currently has no international flights although it is now an international airport of northeastern Thailand.
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Lao Central Airlines is planning to resume commercial flights before end of 2015 when Laos now a member of World Trade Organization (WTO) becomes an active member of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).
Besides the targeted fleet of four Sukhoi SSJ100 jets that it will own by mid-2015 including one existing SSJ100 jet stranded at Wattay Airport, Lao Central Airlines plans to purchase eight Boeing B737 Max and three or four long-range Boeing B777-200 jets so that it will be able to launch long-haul flights to Russia and Europe in the long-term.
Currently, Russia and Laos are in discussions to open flight corridors between Russian cities Vladivostok, Moscow and Vientiane. Vientiane will be an alternative gateway for smaller Russian carriers' future flights to cities in Cambodia and Vietnam and Lao Central Airlines will be able to launch flights to Russia from Vientiane.
The Chairman for Lao Central Airlines, also Chairman of the airline's parent company Phongsavanh Group, Prof. Dr Od Phongsavanh, explained the reasons of flight resumption delays to The Vientiane Times. He said the airline is planning to buy more aircraft such as B777-200 aircraft, hire pilots from Europe and build the airline's first own airport. It hopes to replicate AirAsia's KLIA LCCT and Bangkok Airways' Samui Airport success stories in Laos.
Dr. Od said the Lao Government has accepted Lao Central Airlines' proposal to build private airports with possible locations under study. The Lao Government aims to see an airport built in each Lao province within the next five years. Therefore, it has not revoked the Lao private airline's Air Operator Certificate (AOC). It regards the airline as an active contributor to Lao civil aviation development.
Lao Central Airlines CEO Mr Somboun Phongsavanh said the airline is seeking more information from British Airways and Lufthansa expertise to help the airline identify its weak and strong points before it proceeds to become a public-listed national airline.
Lao Central Airlines plans to resume flights to Don Mueang and Luang Prabang and partner with Khon Kaen Airport in Thailand on launching Indochinese tourist flights between Khon Kaen, Vientiane, Danang and Siem Reap before expanding overseas to include international flights from Vientiane to Phnom Penh, Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Naypidaw and Hong Kong.
Khon Kaen currently has no international flights although it is now an international airport of northeastern Thailand.
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