Lao Airlines Halts Vientiane-Attapeu Route

National flagship Lao Airlines has closed its flight between Vientiane and Attapeu as the number of passengers has been deemed too low to remain economically beneficial.

The airline launched its Vientiane-Attapeu air route in April 2016, offering two flights per week with a stop-over in Pakse, but was discontinued last October.

Initially, the air route seemed economically viable as Lao Airlines announced in August that it would add one more flight to the air route.

However, the management of the Lao Airlines has yet to officially announce the discontinuation of the Vientiane-Attapeu route to the public.

Attapeu has a population of 139,000 people (2015), ranking as the third least populous in the Lao PDR following Xaysomboun with 85,000 people and Xekong with 113,000.

Lao Airlines operates domestic as well as international services to countries including Cambodia, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, and Korea. Its main operating base is Wattay International Airport in Vientiane. It is subordinate to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.