Lao Airlines ready to lease A320s

Lao Airlines is sourcing two A320s to expand its regional network to China and Singapore an official reported during the Mekong Tourism Forum last week.Lao Airlines vice president, Saengprasert Matujun, made the announcement at the gala dinner of Mekong Tourism Forum, 27 May at the Champasak Cultural Hall.

He confirmed Lao Airlines was in discussions with Airbus to strike a deal for two A320 aircraft that would enable it to launch services to regional destinationsandnbsp; Guangzhou in China and Singapore.Mr Saengprasert in an interview with TTR Weekly said the carrier and Airbus were in negotiations to finalise a short-term lease for the first A320s, which could join the fleet as early as this October.

The airline wants to buy two new aircraft, but delivery could not be before 2014 so in the meantime weandnbsp; will go for two leased aircraft, said Mr Saengprasert.The two aircraft will be deployed on routes two new destinations Singapore and Guangzhou, three weekly services each.

The 150- seat Airbus 320 will also be used to boost capacity on the Bangkok, Hanoi and Siem Reap routes replacing the 70-seat ATR-72 for some of the flights.This will allow the airline to increase ATR flights to domestic destinations such as Luang Prabang, Udomxay and Xieng Khouang during the high season.

Earlier, Lao Airlines placed an order for two Chinese-made Comac's ARJ21-700s. These aircraft will roll out in 2012. The 90-seater aircraft (one-class configuration) will be used on domestic routes as well as some secondary regional destinations currently served by ATRs.Now the carrier operates eight aircraft four ATR72s and four MA-60s.

In addition to the two new regional destinations, Mr Saengprasert said the airline was studying the potentiality of a new Savannakhet-Danang route. Based on the outcome of feasibility studies, it could launch a service early next year.There are possibilities too for a service to Seoul, but first it will require ratification of air service agreement between Laos and the South Korean government.

This is not first time that Lao Airlines has leased an A320. In early 2003 it changed its name from Lao Aviation to Lao Airlines and leased one of the 150-seat aircraft from Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise.It was the first and only jet in the airline's fleet and was flown by Vietnam Airlines pilots with the Vietnamese national airline providing maintenance.

The acquisition of the Airbus A320 was flagged a turning point that would lead to the airline privatisation. At the same time it discarded its dated logo and used the A320 to launch a new brighter logo and livery colours that are still in use.

The aircraft flew services to Bangkok, Hanoi and Chiang Mai, but the honeymoon with jet aviation lasted just six months when crippled by rising costs the airline was forced to return the aircraft to the lease firm.At the time, the airline considered flying to Hong Kong, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, but plans went sour as did the relationship with Vietnam Airlines and a team of consultants supplied by Air France.

Source = ttrweekly