PHNOM PENH, 4 March 2024: Lao Airlines officially announced a new direct flight from Vientiane, Laos, to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, at a media briefing last week. The service will start on 19 March.
The airline is already fielding fares on popular booking websites, with a roundtrip fare starting at USD236. But it will face competition from Vietnam Airlines, which flies daily between Vientiane and Phnom Penh, quoting fares of USD295 using the larger A321.
The Lao national carrier will initially fly the route three times weekly on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday using A320 aircraft, according to Lao Airlines director-general Khamla Phommavanh, who briefed the media at the presentation, saying if traffic demand improved, then the airline would increase flights.
“To support and facilitate tourists and business travellers who need to travel to and from Phnom Penh to the Vientiane capital, our team has studied the feasibility of connecting the capital, Vientiane and Phnom Penh carefully and recognised there is enough demand from tourists and business people for direct flights post Covid pandemic.”
Flying Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, the service will depart Vientiane at 0835 and arrive in Phnom Penh at 0955. The return flight from Phnom Penh will depart at 1050 and arrive in Vientiane at 1210. Flight time is one hour and 20 minutes using an Airbus A320 aircraft.
