Lao Airlines, known until March 2004 as Lao Aviation was formed in 1976 as the state airline of Laos.

Code Data

• IATA Code: QV
• ICAO Code: LAO
• Callsign: Lao

History

Originally using surplus American DC-3s and DC-4s, communist Laos later converted to a mixture of Chinese and Russian equipment, including the Antonov An-24 and Harbin Aircraft Industry Group Y-7 and Y-12. Flying mainly to small airfields in mountainous, tropical Laos, the airline acquired a not too favourably reputation for safety, several flights being lost over the years. Lately, with better aircraft and airfields, this reputation has been overcome. Reliability is still to come up to international standards, however.

Services

Lao Airlines flies between their base at Vientiane and a variety of regional cities throughout Laos, using the Y-12 and ATR-72. They also serve destinations in neighbouring China, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam with the ATRs and a newly leased solitary Airbus A320.

Fleet

• Airbus A320-200 - Used for international routes, starting in 2003. Acquired from Ansett (as of July 2004, the life vests still have the Ansett logo).
• ATR72
• Y-12 - 17 seat twin turboprop mainly used between smaller internal destinations.

External Links

• Lao Airlines
• Lao Airlines Jet Fleet Detail
• Lao Airlines Passenger Opinions