Pakse Airport will close again

Pakse Airport will close for three months from 10 February to 10 May to complete an outstanding runway construction project.

According to the local press, Vientiane Times, the project will focus on improving a 900-metre mid-section of the 1,625-metre old runway. The airport was closed until last November to allow runway improvements.

Once phase two is completed the upgraded old runway will be linked to the 745-metre new runway that was completed late last year. Joining the two will give the airport a 2,400-metre runway, enough to accommodate a B737 or A320 with capacities of around 150 seats. The runway is also being widened from 36 to 45 metres.

Vientiane Times quoted Pakse Airport Improvement Project director, Anousack Kittilath, who confirmed work all projects should be completed in time for the next peak season in November.

?We will work hard in the coming months to finish before the start of the rainy season. After we finish the mid-section and the airport is reopened we will continue to further improvements to the rest of the old runway, with full length of the runway operational around October this year.?

The airport was closed last year from July and reopened again in November to serve tourism during high season.

Lao Airlines said during the closure, flights to and from Pakse will be diverted to Savannakhet Airport, in central Laos, directly opposite Mukdahan in Thailand.  Those who already bought tickets will receive free transfer by bus to Pakse. The 240-km bus trip, south on highway 13, takes about six hours.

Sourced = The TTR Weekly