Wattay International Airport (IATA: VTE, ICAO: VLVT), the principle airport of Laos, is located 3 km from the centre of its capital, Vientiane. The airport consists of an old and small domestic terminal and a new international terminal. There is a military (air force) installation at one end of the airport.

The head office of the Department of Civil Aviation and head office of Lao Air are on the airport property. Amenities at the terminals include 280 seats in departure lounge, two passenger boarding bridges, offices for airlines and travel agencies, forex bureaus and banks, ordinary and duty-free shops, a post office, ATMs, restaurants, information desks, an internet café, bars and currency exchange counters. The immigration and customs areas are connected to the aircraft through jet bridges. Passenger lounges are also available in the terminals.

The airport has various ground transportation options available. Both public and private Vientiane airport bus transfer services are available, while official airport taxi services are available outside the arrivals hall. Car rental services are provided by Asia and BP.

A car park is located in front of the terminals and offers both covered and uncovered parking spaces.

Wattay International has an air traffic control tower with a total floor space of 1,780m².

Airport Picture

Air Passengers

Laos has recorded steady growth in air passenger traffic over the recent years. In 2010, the national carrier Lao Airlines recorded about 500,000 passengers. This increased to 815,000 passengers in 2012. Passenger traffic has been boosted by the growing tourism industry, which recorded arrivals of 3.3 million tourists, an increase of 22% from the previous year. 

Vientiane/Wattay International Airport accounts for 60-65% of the total passenger movements in the country. The number of passengers has increased steadily from about 400,000 in 2005 to 685,000 in 2011, and 815,000 in 2012.

The international passenger terminal building was planned under the assumption of 250,000 passengers per annum in 2005 – with the number of passengers at the peak hour number estimated to be about 410 people each, for the departure and arrival.

Source: JICA Study

Aircraft Movements

Source: JICA Study

Air Freight Cargo

Land transport remains the main means of transport for cargo imports and exports in Lao PDR - the ratio of air transport is very small. Items exported by air are mainly documents including airmail and textile, and import items are typically small-sized electronic parts and small computers which are loaded in the small jet aircraft such as B737, A320 and A321 operated by TG, AK and VN. There is no exclusive cargo aircraft.

Cargo Capacity

Air cargos of both international and domestic flights are handled in the small building located at the west side of the international passenger terminal building. The facility is small (about 50 mT capacity) and old. The new cargo terminal building was completed in May 2011 but remained unused pending contractual agreement between L-JATS and the users (Lao Airlines and Lao Central Airways). The capacity limit of the existing terminal building was calculated at 1,800 tons/year.

Airfield Details

Runway

The runway is capable for the taking off and landing of large jets such as Boeing 747-400 corresponding to Code E with 3,000 m length and 45 m width. The approach route and departure route adopted the priority runway method to avoid flying onto the east side of the runway, especially for Thailand and the urban area of Vientiane. Based on the information from the controller, the ratio of landing and taking off of RW31 is 90% to around 95%.

The pavement of the runway was overlaid by asphalt on concrete pavement. The overlay pavement works were carried out through the assistance of Thailand in 2006. The runway turn pad of large jet such as RW13 has been put in place through a loan from the Chinese government in 2012.

 Source: JICA

Helicopter Pad(s)

One permanant Helicopter spot at Wattay with room for others when required.

Airport Operating Details

Apron capacity: at present 21 spots are in service - two for large jets, five for medium jets, seven for small jets, six turboprops, and one spot for helicopter. 

Costs - Airfield Charges

Fuel Charges

The fuel market is regulated by the government. The Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) takes decisions on fuel prices based on the fluctuation of world oil price. LSFC is delegated by MOIC to adjust (increase or decrease) oil price in form of writing and disseminate it to all oil companied throughout the country.

The latest fuel prices can be obtained from http://www.laostatefuel.com/en/gas-price.html

Security

Laos is generally a peaceful country. Although there is no threat from international terrorism, airport security is strong. There is a police presence and the airport authorities have also engaged a private security company. The airport enforces and maintains strict international security checking standards.

Fuel Services

The fuel supply station is located in the DCA control area in the airport. The Lao State Fuel Company (LSFC) has fuel supply tanks and handles refueling of the aircrafts. The fuel supply method is through the use of three fuel trucks and refueling at the apron. LSFC currently has three fuel storage tanks with a total capacity of 300 kl. 

Ground Handling Companies

Lao-Japan Airport Terminal Services Co., Ltd (“L-JATS”), is the Joint Venture Company with Lao Government and Japanese Company. L-JATS is the only authorized company to operate Ground Handling Service for international flight at Vientiane International Airport. It is the operator of Vientiane International Passenger Terminal including parking area in front of terminal and responsible for advertisement inside and outside of the terminal at Wattay International Airport.

For information on Laos Airport contact details, please see the following link: 

4.4 Laos Airport Company Contact List

For  information on Laos Airport additional details, please see the following document: 

Laos Airport Additional Details

Information on some aviation service providers can be found at: AZ Freight information on Laos