Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Lao Airlines, which exhibits at NATAS for the fourth time from 12 to 14 August, is formally admitted into International Air Transport Association (IATA) in Vientiane on 10 August 2016 as IATA's latest country member airline in its 40th year of flight operations. Its entry to IATA marks the airline coming of age as it takes on national aviation management and station operational safety responsibilities on an internationally-recognised level.
This comes after Lao Airlines has achieved globally recognised IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification earlier this year following a comprehensive assessment of its operational management and control systems that are evaluated against more than 900 audit standards and recommended practices across eight disciplines including management organization, operations, maintenance and engineering, ground operations and aviation security.
Both IOSA certification and IATA membership are significant achievements for Lao Airlines since it began operations in 1976 under its former name of Lao Aviation. They will "enhance the trust and confidence levels" (quoting Dr. Somphone Duangdara, Lao Airlines CEO) of the airline among its customers.
In 1976, Lao Aviation had a fleet of Fairchild C-123, Douglas C 47, Douglas DC 4, Antonov 2, Mil Mi 8, Antonov 24 and Antonov 26 aircraft.
In 2016, Lao Airlines has 4 Airbus A320-214 and 7 ATR72-500 and -600 series aircraft operating to 6 domestic and 15 international destinations. Following the achievements mentioned earlier, the airline plans to enlarge its existing route network on its own and with its interline airline partners.
The Lao national flag carrier plans to launch new charter flights to Wuhan in Hubei, China, Nanning in Guangxi from Vientiane and operate future scheduled flights to Taipei, Yangon, Tokyo-Narita and Kuala Lumpur.
Lao Airlines provides Singaporeans and tourists with connecting flights from Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Pakse, Savannakhet and it has code-sharing flights to Vientiane and Luang Prabang with SilkAir from 31 October 2016 on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It is the only airline to fly directly from Singapore to and from Vientiane three times on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
From 1 September 2016, Lao Airlines' passengers in Lao PDR intending to travel to Jakarta will be able to make reservations on Garuda Indonesia's network which includes Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand whereas Garuda Indonesia's passengers in Indonesia can connect to Lao Airlines' flights to Vientiane and Luang Prabang via Singapore and Suvarnabhumi. The Interline and SPA partnership between Lao Airlines and Garuda Indonesia will pave way for Lao Airlines' eventual flights to Jakarta on its own.
Lao Airlines has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Jin Air, South Korea's LCC, to formalise a future Interline agreement that will develop interline sales and provide mutual support on facilities, equipment and information for the safety operation of aircraft in Lao PDR and South Korea. The agreement will allow Lao Airlines to develop its flight network that will eventually cover destinations in South Korea and international cities that are already served by Jin Air including Jeju, Cheongju, Busan, Japan, Hong Kong, Taipei and Guam.
Lao Airlines' existing interline partner airlines include Garuda Indonesia, XiamenAir, China Airlines, Bangkok Airways, Air France KLM, Asiana Airlines, Korean Air, Cambodia Angkor Air, Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar, Qantas, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Hainan Airlines, China Eastern, Thai Airways International, Eva Air, Aeroflot Russian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, SilkAir and SriLankan Airlines.
Establishing new interline partnerships with foreign airlines will enable Lao Airlines to expand its route network faster than addition of new aircraft.
More about IATA
IATA’s mission is to represent, lead and serve the airline industry and is the collective voice of 265 airlines from over 117 countries worldwide. Its vision is to be the force for value creation and innovation driving a safe, secure and profitable air transport industry that will sustain, connect and enrich the world.
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals
Lao Airlines, which exhibits at NATAS for the fourth time from 12 to 14 August, is formally admitted into International Air Transport Association (IATA) in Vientiane on 10 August 2016 as IATA's latest country member airline in its 40th year of flight operations. Its entry to IATA marks the airline coming of age as it takes on national aviation management and station operational safety responsibilities on an internationally-recognised level.
This comes after Lao Airlines has achieved globally recognised IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification earlier this year following a comprehensive assessment of its operational management and control systems that are evaluated against more than 900 audit standards and recommended practices across eight disciplines including management organization, operations, maintenance and engineering, ground operations and aviation security.
Both IOSA certification and IATA membership are significant achievements for Lao Airlines since it began operations in 1976 under its former name of Lao Aviation. They will "enhance the trust and confidence levels" (quoting Dr. Somphone Duangdara, Lao Airlines CEO) of the airline among its customers.
In 1976, Lao Aviation had a fleet of Fairchild C-123, Douglas C 47, Douglas DC 4, Antonov 2, Mil Mi 8, Antonov 24 and Antonov 26 aircraft.
In 2016, Lao Airlines has 4 Airbus A320-214 and 7 ATR72-500 and -600 series aircraft operating to 6 domestic and 15 international destinations. Following the achievements mentioned earlier, the airline plans to enlarge its existing route network on its own and with its interline airline partners.
The Lao national flag carrier plans to launch new charter flights to Wuhan in Hubei, China, Nanning in Guangxi from Vientiane and operate future scheduled flights to Taipei, Yangon, Tokyo-Narita and Kuala Lumpur.
Lao Airlines provides Singaporeans and tourists with connecting flights from Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Pakse, Savannakhet and it has code-sharing flights to Vientiane and Luang Prabang with SilkAir from 31 October 2016 on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It is the only airline to fly directly from Singapore to and from Vientiane three times on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
From 1 September 2016, Lao Airlines' passengers in Lao PDR intending to travel to Jakarta will be able to make reservations on Garuda Indonesia's network which includes Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand whereas Garuda Indonesia's passengers in Indonesia can connect to Lao Airlines' flights to Vientiane and Luang Prabang via Singapore and Suvarnabhumi. The Interline and SPA partnership between Lao Airlines and Garuda Indonesia will pave way for Lao Airlines' eventual flights to Jakarta on its own.
Lao Airlines has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Jin Air, South Korea's LCC, to formalise a future Interline agreement that will develop interline sales and provide mutual support on facilities, equipment and information for the safety operation of aircraft in Lao PDR and South Korea. The agreement will allow Lao Airlines to develop its flight network that will eventually cover destinations in South Korea and international cities that are already served by Jin Air including Jeju, Cheongju, Busan, Japan, Hong Kong, Taipei and Guam.
Mr. Sengpraseuth Mathouchanh, Vice President of Lao Airlines, said, “This cooperation will help Lao Airlines in the future to expand its routes to the domestic of Korea and beyond as well as the tourist, economic and investment between the two countries”.
Jin Air expects to sell its tickets on Lao Airlines' flights to Luang Prabang, Singapore, Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Siem Reap and Danang and other future Southeast Asian cities from Vientiane in due course.
Jin Air expects to sell its tickets on Lao Airlines' flights to Luang Prabang, Singapore, Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Siem Reap and Danang and other future Southeast Asian cities from Vientiane in due course.
An officer of Jin Air added, “We expect to reinforce our airline network in Southeast Asia through this agreement. We will discuss further cooperation on promotions, sales and marketing in a variety of ways so that both airlines can leverage the synergy created through the collaboration.”
Lao Airlines' existing interline partner airlines include Garuda Indonesia, XiamenAir, China Airlines, Bangkok Airways, Air France KLM, Asiana Airlines, Korean Air, Cambodia Angkor Air, Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar, Qantas, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Hainan Airlines, China Eastern, Thai Airways International, Eva Air, Aeroflot Russian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, SilkAir and SriLankan Airlines.
Establishing new interline partnerships with foreign airlines will enable Lao Airlines to expand its route network faster than addition of new aircraft.
More about IATA
IATA’s mission is to represent, lead and serve the airline industry and is the collective voice of 265 airlines from over 117 countries worldwide. Its vision is to be the force for value creation and innovation driving a safe, secure and profitable air transport industry that will sustain, connect and enrich the world.
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