AirAsia, named the World’s Best Low Cost Airline for 10 years running by Skytrax, has continued to introduce direct flights to Laos and now connects the country to 130 destinations across its Southeast Asia and Asian networks.
AirAsia currently serves flights to two Lao cities, Vientiane and Luang Prabang, flying routes from Vientiane-Bangkok (Don Mueang), Vientiane-Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Luang Prabang-Bangkok.
The flights further provide connections to over 71 routes to destinations including South Korea, Japan, Bali, Hong Kong and Singapore via both AirAsia and AirAsia X.
Last year, AirAsia transported over 282,000 people to and from Laos, maintaining a load factor average of 80 per cent and rising. The business and leisure travel spurred economic growth for both Laos and the destination cities.
“AirAsia has continued to maintain world class standards as well as connect destinations across Southeast Asia, facilitating the travel of the Lao people. Thailand has remained one of Laos’ top destinations with travellers heading to Thailand to shop and dine,” Group Head of Product for the Indo-China market, Laddawan Meesupwattana, said during a media event in Vientiane recently.
The objective of the meeting was to increase cooperation between local media organisations and AirAsia and together to develop and publicise AirAsia products accurately.
Last year, the number of Lao people travelling to Thailand exceeded one million, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Malaysia meanwhile is a major target for Lao travellers looking for trade and investment opportunities in Asean. Both Thai and Malaysian tourists have shown a keen interest in Laos, visiting its natural sites and getting to know its rich and unique history.
“CLMV countries [Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam] still have great growth potential and we should be seeing many exciting destinations and activities this year by AirAsia in Laos. We are hopeful we will continue to be well received by the people of Laos and promise to maintain our world class standards, which in 2018 had us named the World’s Best Low Cost Airline by Skytrax for the 10th year running,” Laddawan said.
AirAsia is also fully ready to support local activities to get closer to the Lao people and to serve them in their travels across its network. VIENTIANE TIMES/ASIA NEWS NETWORK