The passenger terminal under construction at Bokeo International Airport. - VT
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/Asia News Network): The first test flights at Bokeo International Airport took place recently, involving planes flown by Lao Airlines and Lao Skyway, with the upgraded airport expected to open next year.
The tests comprised take-offs and landings, and trial runs of the communication system and airport facilities.
Bokeo International Airport has been under construction for the past two years while the existing small domestic airport is expanded and upgraded to facilitate international travel.
The airport is located in Tonpheung district, in an area surrounded by forested mountains and the Mekong River.
The airport is situated just 5km from the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone and the upgrade to an international facility is expected to enhance the economic development of Bokeo.
The runway is being lengthened and widened and the layout of the airport improved to allow for better aircraft parking, and a larger passenger terminal and parking lot.
The upgrade is estimated to cost more than 149 billion kip and is being fully funded by the Lao government.
When the new, improved airport reopens, ATR aircraft will be able to land there and the number of tourists travelling to Bokeo is likely to increase, according to the project manager.
In the past, only small planes with 50 seats could land at the airport.
The new airport will be able to handle one to two flights a day, which will increase the flow of both tourists and business people.
The airport is being expanded to meet the increasing needs of air travellers in the region, while Huayxai district is the capital of Bokeo province and shares a border with Thailand.
Most visitors treat Huayxai as a stopover en route to other destinations. This is unfortunate as the small town has a lot to offer in terms of local life and it’s definitely worth spending a few days by its picturesque riverbank and exploring its landscapes.
Due to the province’s strategic location, the government has set its eyes on the development of road and air connectivity to attract more foreign investment.
Laos’ main airports are Wattay Airport International in Vientiane and airports in Bokeo, Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, Savannakhet and Champassak provinces.
