Officials from Laos and Japan will conduct a feasibility study of direct flights between Nagoya Airport in Japan and Wattay International Airport in Vientiane.
The Director General of the Civil Aviation Department, Mr Yakua Lopangkao, told Vientiane Times yesterday that Lao officials will first collect basic information regarding potential passenger demand.
“We expect to collect the information within the next two months and then we will send it to Japan ,” he said. “We will meet with Japanese officials a month later.”
Mr Yakua observed that more people are flying from America and Japan to Indochina, especially to Laos .
Mr Yakua said that last year Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh visited Japan and met with his Japanese counterpart to discuss various areas of cooperation. One of the issues discussed was the possibility of a direct flight from Nagoya to Vientiane .
Laos has direct flights to several countries, including Thailand , China , Cambodia and Vietnam . Air Asia started direct flights from Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia , late last year.
A flight between Laos and Singapore is also under consideration, Mr Yakua said.
“Last month, we had meetings with representatives from airlines in Singapore who told us they needed a more detailed survey before any developments could take place,” he added.
A direct flight to Myanmar is also under discussion, as officials believe such a move could boost tourism in the region.
“Our government has an open policy concerning flight connections with any foreign country to encourage tourism in Laos ,” Mr Yakua said.
Earlier last year, the Lao government granted visa exemptions to Japanese tourists to strengthen relations between the two countries.
This has led to an increasing number of Japanese visitors to Laos .
According to the Lao National Tourism Administration, in 2005 around 23,000 Japanese visited Laos and in 2006 this figure increased by just two percent.
But in 2007 the figure jumped by 34 percent as a result of the visa exemption.
Tourism officials confirmed that the number of Japanese tourists was increasing, contributing to economic growth.
By Somsack Pongkhao (Latest Update March 18, 2008)
that would be so awesome!!!! direct flights from JPN to VTE.. would save alot of traveling time for me.. i wouldn't mind a little longer wait in Japan and non-stop flight to VTE.. i would use that for sure...
i hope we can have direct flight from France to Laos.... even just one per week... in a few years, maybe...
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One day...one day..my friend, it will happend. I'm quarentee. It future is moving that way..not now but later...I hope before I go the rest of peace !!!!
also the flight between Laos to Singapore now also is being considered. I think Laos is ready for that movement, because Laos is now developing Pakse Airport to be Pakse International Airport. In very near future, we will not wast our time at BK again where the public servances are very impolite, especially to Laos, to Vetnam, to Cambodia, and Mynmar, according to my true experience.
also the flight between Laos to Singapore now also is being considered. I think Laos is ready for that movement, because Laos is now developing Pakse Airport to be Pakse International Airport. In very near future, we will not wast our time at BK again where the public servances are very impolite, especially to Laos, to Vetnam, to Cambodia, and Mynmar, according to my true experience.
I don't like BK too, but for now, i don't have a choice, because it's a direct fly to BK then Vientiane with thai airways...
Not a clever idea !!!! If you have a direct flight from Japan to Vientiane, why you have to waste your times stop for long hours in BKK and why you have to spend more while you have a chance to save to do something that most valuable for your trip?
It is not the question of whether Laos is ready or not....it is whether the Airline will make a profit or from these flights. Some how I don't see that many people flying between Japan and Laos or from Laos to Singapore for that matter.
YOU GUYS DONT WORRY ABOUT .MOST OF YOU WILL MISS THIS FLIGHT ANYWAY .A AIRLINE WILL LEAVE IN THE MORNING TIME IN JAPAN . MOST OF AIRLINE FLIGHT FROM U S A GOT IN JAPAN IN AFTERNOON OR EVENING TIME . THAT IS MEAN YOUN GUYS HAD TO STAY OVER NIGHT IN JAPAN MEAN 12 HRS MORE WAITING TIME
I hope they have Boeing 747 soon then we we have direct flight of one stop or minimum two stop !! And I hope it happened before I go to my resting peace !!!
