VIENTIANE: Lao Airlines will schedule daily flights from Vientiane to Huaphan province starting on April 1 and two flights a day to Luang Namtha province beginning on March 31.
The flight to Huaphan will depart from Vientiane every day at 8:40am and land in Huaphan at 9:40am. It will return via Xamneua at 10:20am and arrive in Vientiane at 11:20am
Flights to Luang Namtha will depart from Vientiane every day at noon and arrive in Luang Namtha at 1pm. The second flight will depart Vientiane at 13:40pm and arrive in Luang Namtha at 14:40pm.
The first return flight will leave Luang Namtha at 13:40pm and land in Vientiane at 14:40pm, and the second return flight will depart Luang Namtha at 15:20pm and arrive in Vientiane at 16:20pm.
The Director of Lao Airlines’ Commercial Department, Noudeng Chanthaphasouk, told the Vientiane Times that the airline operated two flights a day to and from Luang Namtha in the past, but this was cut to just one flight a day. Now, however, Lao Airlines will schedule two flights as before.
In addition, the number of flights between Vientiane and Huaphan will be increased from five to seven a week, he added.
Before Nongkhang airport opened in Huaphan province, most people travelled there by road, which is a long and tedious journey because of the mountainous terrain, but the new airport has put the province within easy reach of people wanting to travel from Vientiane.
Nongkhang airport is located in the provincial capital, Xamneua district, and opened last year, attracting many more people to the province.
Last year, at least 45,000 tourists visited Huaphan province, generating more than 32 billion kip in revenue. The province is located in the far north of Laos, about 600km from Vientiane, and has many places of interest to visitors. - Vientiane Times/ANN
