Lao Airlines
Lao Peoples Democratic Republic · LAO · Active
Airline Identity
History
Lao Airlines traces its origins to a 1976 merger of Royal Air Lao and Lao Air Lines following the establishment of the Lao People's Democratic Republic; it was renamed Lao Aviation in 1979 before later adopting the Lao Airlines name. The carrier initially operated Soviet- and Chinese-built aircraft before modernizing with ATR turboprops in the mid-1990s and later Airbus A320 narrowbodies. In May 2025 it began commercial service with the Comac C909 regional jet, becoming only the second airline outside China (after Indonesia's TransNusa) to fly the type.
Current Operations
Lao Airlines, the wholly state-owned flag carrier of Laos (owned via the Ministry of Public Works and Transport), operates a mixed fleet of Airbus A320s, ATR 72 turboprops, and, since May 2025, Comac C909 regional jets, from its hub at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane. It serves domestic routes across Laos plus international connections to Cambodia, China, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. It is not a member of any global alliance.
Last verified 2026-09-02· Source: airline public disclosures, company press releases & aviation-industry reporting.
Country of Registration
Country data not available.