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Sunday, December 16, 2012

Lao Airlines eyes clear skies ahead

LAOS-In an interview on Wednesday, Lao Airlines Sales and Marketing General Manager Mr Alain Walter said “As Laos develops, the number of customers opting to travel by air will increase and will overtake other means of personal transport.”

Mr Walter is a professional consultant from France who will assist Lao Airlines in providing excellent customer services.

He will work for Lao Airlines for two and a half years to develop market strategy, with the aim of consolidating the airline's future passenger turnover. He has been working for the company for three months.

Mr Walter said “As the development of Lao Airlines continues, it will be a leading air transporter in the future.”

“Lao Airlines is in the process of innovating and improving itself to become a leading air provider, both on a domestic and international scale,” airline Vice President Mr Sengpraseuth Mathouchanh said, speaking at a reception in Vientiane on Wednesday for foreign experts and professionals.

Until now Lao Airlines has been flying ATR and MA aircraft, connecting Lao cities to the world.

As of last month, and with the ongoing support of the Lao government, Lao Airlines has now added two Airbus A320 to its fleet.

Mr Sengpraseuth said “Partly we are preparing for Visit Laos Year in 2012, along with the ASEM Summit and many other important conferences that have been scheduled. As part of a new phase in Lao Airlines' expansion and to help us provide the best for our customers, we have acquired experts and professionals including pilots, engineers, technicians, and marketing and public affairs staff to help us in these matters.”

“I strongly believe that with this team, we are in the best of hands to provide a fast, secure, efficient and enjoyable service for our customers.”

“Thank you each and every one of you for your help in transmitting the knowledge and skills needed to our staff, in order to build Lao Airlines into a leading and valuable passenger carrier,” he said.

A Lao Airlines official said the experts and professionals were recruited from France, Cambodia, Malaysia and America. Staff have also been recruited from Airbus in France.

The airline's two new Airbus fly from Vientiane to Luang Prabang, and internationally to Kunming in China, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, to Singapore, and to Bangkok.

I n 2014, Lao Airlines expects to take delivery of at least two more jet aircraft, which will be able to fly longer distances. The airline plans to fly to Japan, the Republic of Korea and to Guangzhou in China.

The first local private carrier, Lao Central Airlines Public Company, will take to the skies this month. It will initially fly two 150-seater Boeing 737-400 aircraft and will make its inaugural flight once its second aircraft has arrived in Vientiane.

Lao Central initially expects to operate flights to Thailand and then to Vietnam, China and Cambodia. After that, all of the Asean countries remain a possibility. By the end of next year, the airline also hopes to take delivery of nine Russian jets.

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