Lao Skyway, formerly known as Lao Air (Lao: ລາວເດີນອາກາດ, Thai: ลาวเดินอากาศ), is a private airline with its headquarters at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane, Laos. It operates scheduled and charter services to airports in Laos.
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Founded | 24 January 2002 | ||||||
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Hubs | Wattay International Airport | ||||||
Fleet size | 13 | ||||||
Destinations | 9 | ||||||
Parent company | Phongsavanh Group | ||||||
Headquarters | Wattay International Airport, Vientiane, Laos | ||||||
Employees | 200+ | ||||||
Website | www |
History
editLao Air was established on 24 January 2002, as a helicopter charter service company.[3] On 8 December 2003, the airline signed a lease-to-purchase agreement with Lane Xang Minerals Limited Company for the lease of a Cessna Grand Caravan to use on its charter services. The agreement signaled the start of its fixed-wing operation. On 7 October 2005, a second leased Cessna Grand Caravan was added to its fleet.
On 14 April 2007, its regular scheduled services began using the Cessna Grand Caravan.
In April 2014 the company utilized larger passenger aircraft in order to serve the domestic airline market.[4]
As of 2023, the airline is owned by Lao Skyway Group, a subsidiary of Phongsavanh Group.[5]
Destinations
editAs of July 2024[update], Lao Skyway operates scheduled flights to the following domestic destinations in Laos:[6]
- Bokeo – Bokeo International Airport
- Luang Namtha – Louang Namtha Airport
- Luang Prabang – Luang Prabang International Airport
- Muang Xay – Oudomsay Airport
- Pakse – Pakse International Airport
- Phongsaly – Boun Neua Airport
- Xam Neua – Nongkhang Airport
- Xiang Khouang – Xieng Khouang Airport
- Savannakhet – Savannakhet Airport
- Sayaboury – Sayaboury Airport
- Vientiane – Wattay International Airport (Base)
- Viraboury – Viraboury Airport
Fleet
editAs of July 2024[update], Lao Skyway operates the following aircraft (6 helicopters, 7 fixed-wings):[7]
Aircraft | In service | Orders | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Airbus Eurocopter AS350 B3 | 1 | — | Charter flight, Survey, Madivac, Rescue | |
Airbus Eurocopter AS350 B2 | 2 | — | Charter flight, Survey, Madivac, Rescue | |
Mil Mi-17 | 3 | — | Charter, MIA, Fire Fighter in Indonesia, WFO in Sudan | |
Xian MA-60 | 3[8] | — | For scheduled passenger flights | |
Cessna 208 Caravan | 2 | — | For scheduled passenger flights and madivac | |
Let L-410 Turbolet | 2 | — | Long term charter for Mining company | |
Total | 13 | — |
Accidents
edit- 11 April 2009: Flight 200, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, engine failure emergency landing in field.[9]
- 17 April 2013: Flight 201, a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300, crashed after takeoff due to hitting trees.[10]
- 13 November 2015: Flight 265, a Xian MA-60 flight from Luang Prabang to Vientiane engine failure, had a runway excursion on landing.[11]
- 26 April 2016: Eurocopter AS 350 Ecureuil, engine failure emergency landing.[12]
References
edit- ^ a b "Lao Skyway". ch-aviation. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
- ^ "Order JO 7340.2G with Change 1" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. 21 March 2017. p. 3–1–61. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
- ^ "Lao Air". Archived from the original on 2009-02-10. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
- ^ "About Us". Lao Skyway. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
- ^ Vincent, Bruno (8 Jul 2023). "Lao Skyway". WeAreLao. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
- ^ "Flight Schedule". Lao Skyway.
- ^ "Lao Skyway adds maiden Airbus H125 chopper". ch-aviation. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
- ^ "Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One)". Airliner World (October 2019): 19.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Cessna 208B Grand Caravan RDPL-34144 Thulakhôm District". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 RDPL-34180 Sam Neua Airport (NEU)". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
- ^ "Incident: Lao Skyway MA60 at Vientiane on Nov 13th 2015, runway excursion on landing". avherald.com. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. "Accident Eurocopter AS 350 Ecureuil RDPL-34162 , 26 Apr 2016". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
External links
editMedia related to Lao Skyway at Wikimedia Commons