Officials announce regularly scheduled flights from U-Tapao Pattaya to Luang Prabang and Vientiane, return, will begin October 29.
Airline service between U-Tapao-Pattaya International Airport and Luang Prabang, Laos begins Oct. 29, capping Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome’s effort to create regularly scheduled flights to the UNESCO World Heritage city.
Laos Airlines will fly two round-trips per week between U-Tapao and Laos. One will connect Luang Prabang and the other to the capital Vientiane.
“Thailand and Laos have always had a close relationship,” Laos Airlines President Sangprasert Mathuchan said at an Oct. 8 press conference. “U-Tapao, in the past half-year, has seen an increased amount of tourists and service.”
The effort to bring Laos routes to Pattaya began early this summer with a charter flight for top business and political leaders in June.
Flights will depart U-Tapao at 10 a.m. and arrive in Luang Prabang at 12:15 p.m. The Vientiane flights leave Laos at 11:40 a.m. and arrive at U-Tapao at 1:10 p.m. There will be two flights per week on Fridays and Sundays.
The planes will follow a triangular route through the three cities, with flights leaving Pattaya for Vientiane to return via Luang Prabang.
“This is a good opportunity to increase brother-sister cooperation,” Itthiphol said. “It will result in good relations between the two countries to create tourism for the eastern region.”
He said Laos Airline has already attracted interest in the Pattaya service from Japanese and European tour companies.
