Finishing touches to airport

ATTAPEU Construction of the Attapeu International Airport is now 90% complete and is expected to open for the first flight soon.
According to an earlier report the airport was supposed to be ready for flights by May.
Lao News Agency reported construction began in 2013 and once completed the airport should contribute to provincial socio-economic development and tourism in Attapeu province.
The airport was constructed at a cost of USD36 million through a loan from Hoang Anh Gia LaiJoint Stock Company of Vietnam. The group has invested around USD1 billion in rubber tree plantations in Attapeu province.
inside no 9The airport will be able to accommodate 70-100 seat planes such as the ATR 72, Fokker 70, MA-60, and Fokker 100.
It will be the country’s fourth gateway for international travel. The first is Vientiane’s Wattay International followed by Luang Prabang and Pakse airports.
At present the nearest airport is Pakse International Airport, which is 200 km northwest of Attapeu. It has a couple of regional services to Cambodia and Thailand operated by Lao Airlines.
Attapeu borders Vietnam and Cambodia. Tourist attractions include the 16th-century Saysetthatthirath pagoda, three waterfalls on the Xepain River, and Attapeu pottery vases used to store rice wine.
It is about 600 km southeast of Vientiane.

sourced:ttrweekly.com