Laotian carriers resume domestic flights

Lao Airlines (QV, Vientiane) has announced it will resume domestic flights under strict Covid-19 safety measures from June 25, 2021. This follows after the airline suspended almost all flights as the country experienced a second wave of COVID-19 in April this year. According to an announcement on its social media channels, the airline will resume domestic flights on June 25 from Vientiane to the following destinations: Luang Prabang, Pakse, Oudomxay, Luang Namtha, and Xieng Khouang. Flights to and from Savannakhet will commence on July 2. The airline said it would release further information about upcoming flights in the near future. As the community spread of COVID-19 continued in the capital Vientiane, Laos extended lockdown measures until July 4, however, with the proviso that passengers who have been fully vaccinated may fly domestically between Vientiane and other provinces without having to quarantine, reports The Laotian Times. By June 22, the country had recorded a total of 2,054 COVID-19 cases of which 1,948 had recovered, with three recorded COVID-19 related deaths. On domestic routes, Lao Airlines uses its fleet of two active ATR72-500s, two active ATR72-600s and two active A320-200s, depending on the route. It has another two ATR72-500s, one ATR72-600s, and two A320-200s in storage, according to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module. All its aircraft are owned, except for two A320-200s which are leased from ICBC Financial Leasing. Despite the lockdown, the national carrier is also operating twice weekly international scheduled flights from Vientiane to Kunming Changshui in China; and weekly flights to Seoul Incheon in South Korea, using one of its A320-200s, the ch-aviation schedules module shows. Meanwhile, private carrier Lao Skyway (LK, Vientiane), from June 19, is due to resume daily domestic schedules from Vientiane to Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang International, Oudomxay, and Sam Neua; 5x weekly rotations to Xieng Khouang; and 4x weekly flights to Pakse and Phongsaly, according to the ch-aviation schedules module. Flights are conducted with its single MA-600, except for rotations to Phongsaly and Sam Neua which are operated with a Cessna (single turboprop) Grand Caravan. Lao Skyway also operates one DHC-6-200 leased from Stefenelli Aviation which it uses on VIP shuttle services for the Phongsubthavy Group, a Lao construction and infrastructure firm. It also has three owned MA-60 in storage, the ch-aviation fleets advanced module reveals.