Wattay International Airport

Airport serving Vientiane, Laos From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wattay International Airport (Lao: ສະໜາມບິນສາກົນວັດໄຕ) (IATA: VTE, ICAO: VLVT) is an international airport in Laos, the country's main international gateway, serving the capital Vientiane, located 3 km (1.9 mi) outside of the city centre in Sikhottabong district, Vientiane Prefecture.[1] The airport is operated by the Lao Airport Authority (LAA) and serves as a hub for Lao Skyway, Lanexang Airways International, and Lao Airlines. The Lao Air Force also operates an installation at one end of the airport.

AirporttypePublic / military
OperatorMilitary of Laos
ServesVientiane Prefecture
LocationSikhottabong district, Vientiane Prefecture, Laos
Quick facts ສະໜາມບິນສາກົນວັດໄຕ, Summary ...
Wattay International Airport
ສະໜາມບິນສາກົນວັດໄຕ
Summary
Airport typePublic / military
OperatorMilitary of Laos
ServesVientiane Prefecture
LocationSikhottabong district, Vientiane Prefecture, Laos
Opened1999; 27 years ago (1999)
Hub for
Elevation AMSL564 ft (172 m)
Coordinates17°59′18″N 102°33′48″E
Map
VTE/VLVT is located in Laos
VTE/VLVT
VTE/VLVT
Location of airport in Laos
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
13/31 9,843 3,000 Asphalt
Statistics (2012)
Passenger movements?
Airfreight movements in tonnes?
Aircraft movements?
Close
This article contains Lao text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Lao script.

The head offices of the Department of Civil Aviation and Lao Air are on the airport property.[2][3] The 45 metre wide and 3000 metre long single runway is capable of handling aircraft as large as the Boeing 747-400.[4]

History

Wattay International Airport terminal building

Wattay International Airport began operations in 1999. Using grant money from the Japanese government, the airport renovated its international terminal in 2005. The cargo terminal was built in 2011 by the Lao-Japan Airport Terminal Building Service with ₭9.6 billion of funding from the Bank of Japan.[5]

In July 2011, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport initiated a new expansion project in association with China CAMC Engineering Company. The project saw the elongation of the single asphalt runway by 260 meters to 3,000 metres; development of parking lots; renovation of its road and drainage system; expansion of two aprons to accommodate larger aircraft; and the construction of new offices for the LAA and Lao Civil Aviation Department. Japan provided ¥1.9 billion in funding to the project through the Japan International Cooperation Agency, making up two-thirds of the total cost of ₭302 billion. The project began in December 2011 and was completed in November 2012. In February 2012, $3 million was provided by the Bouathip Lao Company to expand the domestic terminal.[5]

In December 2015, the airport launched another expansion project, completed in August 2018.[6] The project saw the expansion of the international terminal, the construction of a new domestic terminal, and the improvement of several facilities. The project was again funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, contributing a ¥9 billion loan.[5]

Airlines and destinations

More information Airlines, Destinations ...
AirlinesDestinations
9 Air Guangzhou,[7] Haikou, Wuxi,[8] Xi'an,[9]Wenzhou[10]
Air Busan Busan, Seoul–Incheon[citation needed]
AirAsia Kuala Lumpur–International[11]
Beijing Capital Airlines Jieyang[12]
Cambodia Airways Phnom Penh[13]
China Eastern Airlines Kunming,[14] Shanghai–Pudong, Wuhan[15]
China Express Airlines Chongqing[16]
China Southern Airlines Guangzhou
China United Airlines Beijing–Daxing,[17] Ordos,[18] Wenzhou[19]
GX Airlines Jinan,[20] Nanning[20]
Hainan Airlines Haikou[21]
Hong Kong Airlines Hong Kong[22][23]
Jeju Air Seoul−Incheon[24]
Seasonal: Muan
Jin Air Seasonal: Seoul–Incheon
Juneyao Air Lanzhou, Xi'an[25]
Lao Airlines Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi,[26] Bokeo,[26][27] Changsha,[26] Changzhou,[26] Chengdu–Tianfu, Cheongju, Guangzhou,[26] Da Nang,[28] Hangzhou,[26] Hanoi,[26] Ho Chi Minh City,[26] Kunming,[26] Luang Namtha,[26] Luang Prabang,[26] Nanning,[29] Ningbo,[29] Oudomxay, Pakse,[26] Quanzhou,[26][30] Sanya,[29] Savannakhet,[26] Seoul–Incheon,[26] Shanghai–Pudong,[26][31] Wenzhou, Xam Neua,[26] Xiangkhoang,[26] Zhanjiang[29]
Lao Skyway Bokeo, Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, Pakse, Phongsali, Savannakhet,[32] Sayaboury, Xam Neua,[33] Xepon, Xiangkhoang
Lucky Air Kunming
Myanmar Airways International Yangon
Qingdao Airlines Xishuangbanna[34]
Scoot Singapore[35]
Sichuan Airlines Chengdu–Tianfu,[36] Kunming[37]
T'way Air Busan, Seoul–Incheon
Seasonal: Daegu[38]
Thai AirAsia Bangkok–Don Mueang[39]
Thai Airways International Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi[39]
VietJet Air Ho Chi Minh City[40][41]
Vietnam Airlines Hanoi,[42] Ho Chi Minh City,[40] Phnom Penh[43]
West Air Changsha,[44] Chongqing[45]
XiamenAir Beijing–Daxing,[46] Fuzhou[47]
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Facilities

The interior of Wattay Airport in Vientiane

The airport has a bonded warehouse building for air cargo passing through the airport. The facility is operated by Lao-Japan Airport Terminal Building Service Co. Ltd.

Ground transportation

An airport shuttle bus

The airport can be accessed by shuttle bus, taxi, car, tuk-tuk and on foot. The shuttle bus stop is located outside the international terminal.

References

External links

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