Lao Airlines, SilkAir boost ASEAN cooperation

Singapore’s SilkAir and Lao Airlines, the national carrier of Laos, have signed a new codeshare agreement for flights between the two countries.

Under the terms of the deal, which was signed in Vientiane this week during the ASEAN summit, SilkAir will place its ‘MI’ flight code on Lao Airlines’ services between Singapore, Vientiane and Luang Prabang.

In return, Lao Airlines will be able to add its ‘QV’ code to SilkAir’s new triangular route between the three cities, which commences on 31 October 2016.

“The establishment of a codeshare cooperation between Lao Airlines and SilkAir will strengthen the relationship between Laos and Singapore as part of the ASEAN Economic Community. This cooperation will especially help to promote the tourist and investment activities among the two countries as well as ASEAN countries,” said Sengpraseuth Mathouchanh, Lao Airlines’ vice president of planning & cooperation.

SilkAir’s vice president of commercial, Ryan Pua, added that the agreement would lead to a “greater flow of visitors between the countries”.

Lao Airlines currently operates three weekly flights (Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays) connecting Singapore and Luang Prabang, via Vientiane. And SilkAir is planning to serve the same three cities in a triangular Singapore-Vientiane-Luang Prabang-Singapore routing, with three weekly services every Monday, Thursday and Saturday.