New Lao Airlines service to Vientiane completes Changi Airport's ASEAN network

The move makes Singapore connected to all nine other ASEAN countries.

Singapore Changi Airport welcomed Thursday the arrival of Lao Airlines from Vientiane, the 11th new city link for Changi this year. With the commencement of thrice-weekly services between Singapore and Vientiane, Changi Airport is now connected via direct flights to all nine of Singapore's ASEAN neighbours.

Lao Airlines’ direct service comes on the back of strong bilateral ties between the two countries. Singapore is among Laos' top 10 foreign investors, with investments in sectors ranging from manufacturing to hospitality. In the first nine months of this year, bilateral trade saw a substantial growth of 40% year-on-year to reach about US$29 million. Singapore and Laos have also been regular cooperation and exchange partners since Laos joined ASEAN in 1997, across areas such as education, healthcare and tourism.

In terms of air traffic, the number of passengers travelling between the two countries has grown steadily over the last five years. During this period, Singapore visitor arrivals into Laos grew about 8% annually to about 6,100 in 2010, while the number of visitors from Laos increased by some 25% every year to about 5,200 in 20103. The new direct city link to Vientiane will further stimulate both business and leisure travel between the two countries. Laos is positioning itself as an attractive place for investment, as well as a scenic destination with a rich heritage which world travellers will enjoy, according to a Changi Airport report.

Indeed, culturally rich Laos is home to many ancient wonders. From Vientiane where many ancient temples are sited, tourists can journey onward to several old world charms in neighbouring provinces, such as the mysterious Plain of Jars and the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Luang Prabang and the Vat Phou Temple complex. On the other hand, travellers from Laos can visit Singapore for tourism, medical and education activities, as well as use Singapore as a stopover point to other destinations. With its new Singapore service, Lao Airlines can leverage Changi Airport's strong connectivity to Europe and Southwest Pacific to tap these markets.

For the new service, Lao Airlines will operate its brand new A320 aircraft in a two-class configuration, with a total of 142 seats. The service will depart Vientiane on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 1505 hours, arriving at Changi Airport at 1830 hours on the same day. The return flight will depart Changi at 1940 hours and arrive in Vientiane at 2105 hours.