Lao Skyway

Regional airline of Laos

"Lao Air" redirects here; not to be confused with Lao Airlines.

Lao Skyway
ລາວເດີນອາກາດ

| IATA | ICAO | Call sign

|
|

LK[1] | LLL[1] | LAVIE[2]
Founded| 24 January 2002; 23 years ago (2002-01-24)
Hubs| Wattay International Airport
Fleet size| 13
Destinations| 9
Parent company| Phongsavanh Group
Headquarters| Wattay International Airport, Vientiane, Laos
Employees| 200+
Website| www.laoskyway.com

Lao Skyway, formerly known as Lao Air (Lao: ລາວເດີນອາກາດ, Thai: ลาวเดินอากาศ), is a state-owned enterprise, domestic airline, headquartered at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane, Laos. It operates scheduled and charter services to airports in Laos.

## History

[edit]

Lao Air was established on 24 January 2002, as a helicopter charter service company.[3] On 8 December 2003, the airline signed a lease-to-purchase agreement with Lane Xang Minerals Limited Company for the lease of a Cessna Grand Caravan to use on its charter services. The agreement signaled the start of its fixed-wing operation. On 7 October 2005, a second leased Cessna Grand Caravan was added to its fleet.

On 14 April 2007, its regular scheduled services began using the Cessna Grand Caravan. Lao Air rebranded as Lao Skyway in late 2013.[4] In April 2014 the company began using larger passenger aircraft on its scheduled routes.[4] As of 2023, the airline is owned by Lao Skyway Group,

## Destinations

[edit]

As of July 2024[update], Lao Skyway operates scheduled flights to the following airports in Laos:[5]

* Bokeo - Bokeo International Airport
* Luang Namtha - Louang Namtha Airport
* Luang Prabang - Luang Prabang International Airport
* Muang Xay - Oudomsay Airport
* Pakse - Pakse International Airport
* Phongsaly - Boun Neua Airport
* Hauphanh - Nongkhang Airport
* Xiang Khouang - Xieng Khouang Airport
* Savannakhet - Savannakhet Airport
* Sayaboury - Sayaboury Airport
* Vientiane - Wattay International Airport (Base)
* Viraboury - Sepon Airport

## Fleet

[edit]

As of July 2024[update], Lao Skyway operates the following aircraft (6 helicopters, 7 fixed-wings):[6]

Lao Skyway AS350 b2 Mi17 Lao Skyway Cessna C208b Grand Caravan Lao Skyway Lao Skyway Fleet  Aircraft  | In service  | Orders  | Notes

|
|
|

Airbus Eurocopter AS350 B3 | 1 | — | Charter flights, surveying, medevac, rescue
Airbus Eurocopter AS350 B2 | 2 | — | Charter flights, surveying, medevac, rescue
Mil Mi-17 | 3 | — | Charter, MIA
Xian MA-60 | 2 Active[7] | — | For scheduled passenger flights

RDPL-34171 is retired

Xi'an MA600 | 1[8] |  | RDPL-34252 is retired
Cessna 208 Caravan | 2 | — | For scheduled passenger flights and medevac
Let L-410 Turbolet | 2 | — | Long term mining company charter
Comac C909 | — | 1  | In order
Comac C919 | — | 1  | In order
Total  | 11  | 2  |

## Accidents

[edit]

* 11 April 2009: Flight 200, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, engine failure emergency landing in field.[9]
* 17 April 2013: Flight 201, a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300, crashed after hitting trees on takeoff from Nathong Airport, with five injuries.[10]
* 13 November 2015: Flight 265, a Xian MA-60 flight from Luang Prabang to Vientiane steering wheel mechanical problem, had a runway excursion on landing.[11]
* 26 April 2016: Eurocopter AS 350 Ecureuil, engine failure emergency landing.[12]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Lao Skyway". ch-aviation. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
2. ^ "Order JO 7340.2G with Change 1" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. 21 March 2017. pp. 3–1–61. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
3. ^ "Lao Air". Archived from the original on 2009-02-10. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
4. ^ a b "Laoskyway". www.laoskyway.com. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
5. ^ "Flight Schedule". Lao Skyway.
6. ^ "Lao Skyway adds maiden Airbus H125 chopper". ch-aviation. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
7. ^ "Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One)". Airliner World (October 2019): 19.
8. ^ Nadalet, Ivan (January 20, 2020). "Lao Skyway adds first MA-600". www.ch-aviation.com/.
9. ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Cessna 208B Grand Caravan RDPL-34144 Thulakhôm District". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
10. ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 RDPL-34180 Sam Neua Airport (NEU)". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
11. ^ "Incident: Lao Skyway MA60 at Vientiane on Nov 13th 2015, runway excursion on landing". avherald.com. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
12. ^ Ranter, Harro. "Accident Eurocopter AS 350 Ecureuil RDPL-34162 , 26 Apr 2016". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 22 December 2018.

## External links

[edit]

Media related to Lao Skyway at Wikimedia Commons

* Official website

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