26 Feb 2015
VIENTIANE The Lao government expects to start construction of a terminal extension early next year at Wattay International Airport with financial support from Japan.
The Vientiane Times quoted Ministry of Public Works and Transport’s Civil Aviation Department general director, Yakua Lopangkao, as saying the project would cost USD100 million.
“The construction work will be supervised by a Japanese company and should be completed in 2018.”
The cost will be covered by a low-interest loan from Japan.
inside no 2Design work is almost complete and there is enough land for the expansion within the airport property.
The project will involve the demolition of the existing domestic terminal to make way for the expansion of the international terminal. A a new domestic terminal will also be built at the same time.
The government plans to expand the international terminal to ensure it can accommodate up to 3 million people annually in the future, he added.
The existing terminal handles around 1 million passengers a year.
Laos is also considering a plan to build a new airport about 35 km south of Vientiane, but that requires approval of a suitable site and construction would not begin before 2020, taking five years to complete.
sourced:ttrweekly.com