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gjbkk

Laos begins Luang Prabang-Udon Thani flights


Lao Airlines on Monday announced the opening of a new route between Luang Prabang, Laos's once royal capital, and Udon Thani province.

The new route will operate twice a week on Friday and Sunday. The fare is $80 dollars one way and $150 dollars round trip, said Radio Laos in a broadcast monitored in Bangkok.

Udon Thani is the closest Thai airport to Vientiane, the Laos capital. It is a major hub for Laos and foreigners living in Laos to catch flights on to Bangkok and abroad. Luang Prabang is the former capital of Laos' royal family and a major tourist destination.

The 600-year-old Lao monarchy was ended shortly after the land-locked nation was taken over by the communists. The king and crown prince died doing slave labour, and the queen died in a detention camp.

The announcement of the new route for Lao Airlines, the national carrier, coincided with a one-day visit by Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to Vientiane.

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"If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving isn't for you "

gjbkk

Rural Surin

Even to this day, one takes their chances with Lao Air....

Thai Pom

^ I DON'T take chances with them.

Rural Surin

Damn Commies.

Thai Pom

Once a red, always a Red....

Udonite

What lets Udon International Airport down, dealing with this trickle of flights is the lack of a decent taxi service in the town. A handful of hotels have minibuses, that drop guests off. Normally family and friends wait at the car park and pick up.
Anyone who arrives who does not know anyone, and is passing through will be amazed at the lack of a proper taxi service.

Texpat

I've heard their safety is atrocious -- but I don't ever recall reading a story regarding a Lao Airline accident or incident.

What's up with that? Are they simply not reported or is it a myth?

Can it be any more dangerous than the bus ride from Udon to Bangkok? Doubt it.

^Agreed, if you're too hi-so to ride in a tuk-tuk, don't come to Udon. As far as I know there are no taxis there. Don't be fooled by the International moniker. It's a mere technicality.

Rural Surin

I really surprised that Bangkok Air didn't take advantage of this market, certainly the way that they seem to be doing well and expanding leaps and bounds over the last 5 or 6 years. There is a new market being made for mid-sized domestic market since Thai Air domestic has dramatically cut back services and routes it offered in the past. Udon Thani is one of those middle markets.

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WESTERN CIVILISATION....???

Rural Surin

Udon mirrors Phitsanulok. Here we have a major Thai market. Real airport, universities, important railway point, etc. Not a taxi, tuk-tuk, songtao, rickshaw to be found....

gjbkk

It's probably not as bad as you think. First off, it's important to make a distinction between routes flying the French-built ATR-72's, and the routes serviced by the Chinese-built Y-12 aircraft. The ATR-72 is used on the international routes, such as from Vientiane to Bangkok or Siem Reap, Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang, and on the main domestic link between Vientiane and Luang Prabang. Lao Airlines has never had a crash involving an ATR-72, and even the ever-cautious US State Department recommends that travellers fly only in Lao aircraft certified for regular international routes, such as the ATR's.

It is a different story for Lao Airlines' domestic routes workhorse, the Y-12. Yet even here, international safety records show that Lao Y-12 crash statistics are not as bad as their reputation might suggest. The airline, operating as Lao Aviation, has had a total of five crashes, three with fatalities, since 1990. In December 1993, a Y-12 crashed in fog, killing 18. In May 1998, a Yak-40 carrying a Vietnamese Military delegation crashed in a rainstorm, with 26 dead. Then in October 2000, a Y-12 crashed in bad weather near Sam Neua, with 8 dead. The most recent mishap was in February 2002 when a Y-12 was knocked over by high winds while taking off. There were no deaths in that incident.

more.... Is Lao Airlines safe to fly? a Travelfish feature story