Thai-Lao flight quotas increased

Traditional Laotian dancers welcome the arrival of Thai AirAsia’s maiden flight to Vientiane on July 1. (Photo by Boonsong Kositchotethana)

The cabinet has approved the Thai-Lao accord to increase the limits on seat numbers that their respective airlines can carry between the two countries.

The agreement paves the way for designated carriers registered in both countries to ramp up seat capacities on routes that were restricted for years.

Under the new accord, seats on Bangkok-Vientiane and Vientiane-Bangkok flights will increase more than six times to 14,500 seats from 2,100.

On the Bangkok-Luang Prabang and Luang Prabang-Bangkok routes, the number of seats will increase to 10,000 from 1,000.

The seat quotas for customs airports approved for imported and exported goods between Thailand and Laos have also raised to 2,100 from 450.

Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said the increases aimed to meet rising passenger traffic demand and to boost tourism between the two countries under the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Two Countries, One Destination campaign.

The TAT’s initiative introduces four new routes by three local airlines to connect Thailand with the booming tourism markets in neighbouring Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV).



