(VIENTIANE)- It used to be called Pongsavanh Airlines, a name related to its parent company, the Pongsavanh Group. A name rather difficult to sell –especially to a foreign public.
(VIENTIANE)- It used to be called Pongsavanh Airlines, a name related to its parent company, the Pongsavanh Group. A name rather difficult to sell –especially to a foreign public. At the end of last year, the carrier was then renamed Central Lao Airlines, which provides a more explicit content to the origin of the carrier. And with the delivery of two Boeing 737-400 aircraft, Laos’ first independent airline is now ready to become operational. Posters are gracing since a few weeks the streets of Vientiane and Luang Prabang in the country, highlighting bargain fares on offer by the carrier between Vientiane and Luang Prabang as well as Vientiane and Bangkok.
Vientiane-Luang Prabang was opened earlier this year with three weekly flights and will be upgraded to a daily frequency from June. The carrier also launched a three-weekly flight from Vientiane to Pakse in Southern Laos. Lao Central Airlines first international route between Vientiane and Bangkok has been put into service in May and is already served with a daily morning flight. Special fares are now available at around US$ 195 a round-trip between Vientiane and Bangkok, a 30% discount over fares on sale by national carriers Thai Airways and Lao Airlines. Lao Central Airlines (LCA) main problem for the time being are distribution and sale channels.
The company advertises its website (www.flylaocentral.com) but it was still inoperative on May 22. Representatives of the airline in Bangkok were unable to provide a dateline for the launch of the website and advised to book for now by phone.
However, a positive development for the travel industry has been the signature of a global distribution agreement between LCA and Amadeus. The agreement paves the way to provide travel agents with a worldwide complete access to the new airline’s entire range of fares, domestic and international schedules and inventories. According to Savanhphone Phongsavanh, CEO of LCA, “Laos as a country is becoming an increasingly active member of the global travel community with air transport links in and around the country critical to the nation’s development. Lao Central Airlines is committed to supporting that development with a rapid growth strategy including plans to introduce two additional jet aircraft to the fleet by 2014.”
Flights are planned to other countries such as Singapore, Cambodia, China and Vietnam. With two Laotian air carriers flying now to Bangkok, it is most likely that low cost carrier Thai AirAsia will renew its demand to provide services between Bangkok and Vientiane. A request denied until now by Laotian authorities keen to preserve the duopoly position of Thailand and Laos national flag carriers…
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
