LAO Airlines has signalled its intention to tap into the rest of the world with its latest expansion: thrice-weekly Vientiane-Singapore services that started yesterday.

Timed to arrive and depart Singapore in the evening to facilitate connections from Europe and Australasia, the flights – operated on an Airbus A320 with 16 business-class and 126 economy-class seats – offer regional and longhaul travellers an alternative to Bangkok, which has served as the primary gateway to Laos for many years.

“Prior to this, the need to connect in Bangkok resulted in a minimal number of Singapore-based travellers to Laos compared to other Asians,” said Universal Travel Corporation’s managing director, Khoo Boo Liat.

Lao Airlines’ sales manager for Singapore, Lester Song, said: “Forward bookings on our thrice-weekly services are looking good and our first flights are all going out full or nearly full. We are working with tour operators, expatriate associations and various special interest groups to promote travel to Laos.”

Khoo added: “Within six weeks of our sales effort taking off, we had more than 200 bookings and these continue to grow. The numbers are promising and encouraging.”

With this new link to Vientiane, Singapore Changi International Airport now offers direct air connections to all nine countries in the ASEAN grouping.