The Lao government will upgrade and expand Wattay International Airportin Vientiane in early next year with financial support from Japan.
The expanded airport is expected to carry more than 2 million to 3 million people annually in the future.
“Theproject will come at a cost of about 800 billion LAK (100 millionUSD),” Yakua Lopangkao, Director General of the Ministry of Public Worksand Transport’s Civil Aviation Department, was quoted by VientianeTimes as saying.
The construction work will be operated by aJapanese company and is expected to be completed in 2018, he said,adding that “We have planned to take out a low interest loan from thegovernment of Japan to expand the existing international terminal.”
Inthe 1990s, Wattay Airport was designed to carry less than 1 millionpassengers per year. But it currently welcomes about 1 million people atthe international terminal.
According to the official, thenumber of passengers will exceed the airport’s designed capacity as Laosintegrates to the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and signs up to the“ASEAN Open Skies”.
Along with the expansion of Wattay Airport,Laos plans to build a new international airport, about 35 kilometressouth of Vientiane, which is expected to benefit the country’s economyand tourism industry.
Laos has 12 airports, four of which canprovide services in line with international standards including Wattay,Luang Prabang, Savannakhet and Champasak, while the remaining airportsare used for domestic flights.-VNA
The expanded airport is expected to carry more than 2 million to 3 million people annually in the future.
“Theproject will come at a cost of about 800 billion LAK (100 millionUSD),” Yakua Lopangkao, Director General of the Ministry of Public Worksand Transport’s Civil Aviation Department, was quoted by VientianeTimes as saying.
The construction work will be operated by aJapanese company and is expected to be completed in 2018, he said,adding that “We have planned to take out a low interest loan from thegovernment of Japan to expand the existing international terminal.”
Inthe 1990s, Wattay Airport was designed to carry less than 1 millionpassengers per year. But it currently welcomes about 1 million people atthe international terminal.
According to the official, thenumber of passengers will exceed the airport’s designed capacity as Laosintegrates to the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and signs up to the“ASEAN Open Skies”.
Along with the expansion of Wattay Airport,Laos plans to build a new international airport, about 35 kilometressouth of Vientiane, which is expected to benefit the country’s economyand tourism industry.
Laos has 12 airports, four of which canprovide services in line with international standards including Wattay,Luang Prabang, Savannakhet and Champasak, while the remaining airportsare used for domestic flights.-VNA
