Lao Airlines
Lao Airlines is the state-owned national carrier of Laos, founded in 1989, operating scheduled domestic flights and international routes to China, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Singapore via owned ticket offices, digital channels, and a global GSA network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersVientiane, Laos
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Lao Airlines does
Lao Airlines is the state-owned national carrier of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, founded in 1989 and headquartered at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane. The airline operates scheduled passenger and cargo services across a domestic network spanning major Laotian destinations (Luang Prabang, Xiangkhouang, Luang Namtha, Oudomsay, Savannakhet, Pakse) and international routes connecting Laos to China, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Singapore. Its commercial offer is built around ticket sales through owned ticket offices, an online booking portal (laoairlines.com), iOS and Android mobile applications, a contact center (hotline 1626), and an extensive network of General Sales Agents and Passenger Sales Agents covering Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, and the Americas.
The core operating technology stack is provided by Sabre Corporation under a 10-year agreement signed in January 2026, which extended use of the SabreSonic Passenger Service System and migrated the airline to the cloud-based SabreMosaic Travel Marketplace, enabling offer-and-order-based retailing and enhanced connectivity with interline and codeshare partners. Booking, check-in, and frequent flyer login portals are additionally powered by Intelisys. Revenue is generated principally through passenger ticket sales (Economy and Business class fares), supplemented by ancillary services (excess baggage, seat selection, meals), charter flight contracts with groups and organizations, and the FlyerBonus loyalty program.
The go-to-market combines direct digital channels, owned ticket offices across Laos and key international gateways (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Kunming, Guangzhou, Jinghong, Seoul, Singapore, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City), and a GSA-mediated indirect channel that extends commercial reach into markets where Lao Airlines does not maintain its own offices. Customer segments span domestic travelers (business, tourism, pilgrimage), international travelers (leisure, business, VFR), and charter clients (corporates, groups). The airline operates under the IATA designator QV and is GDPR-compliant in its passenger data handling.
Lao Airlines firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lao Airlines
- Legal name
- Lao Airlines State Enterprise
- Website
- https://laoairlines.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Lao Airlines is the state-owned national carrier of Laos, founded in 1989, operating scheduled domestic flights and international routes to China, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Singapore via owned ticket offices, digital channels, and a global GSA network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lao Airlines industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Passenger Air Transportation
- NAICS
- Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation (481111), Nonscheduled Air Transportation (4812), Air Transportation (481)
- SIC
- Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512), Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Full-Service Airlines (Passenger + Belly Cargo Integrated) (THABAAAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Passenger Handling (Check-in, Boarding, Gate Services) (THABAIAD), Thin-Route / Rural Community Regional Airlines (THABACAI)
Keywords
Where Lao Airlines is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vientiane
- HQ country
- Laos
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices19 records
Markets served
Lao Airlines business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Passenger Air Transportation: Core revenue from passenger ticket sales across domestic routes within Laos and international routes to neighboring countries including China, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Singapore
- Charter Flights: Revenue from charter flight services offered to groups and organizations
- Ancillary Services: Revenue from excess baggage fees, special services (meals, special assistance), seat selection, and other optional services
- Frequent Flyer Program: FlyerBonus loyalty program generating revenue through membership engagement and potential partnerships
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Economy Class |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Business Class |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels5 records
Lao Airlines product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lao Airlines operates scheduled passenger and cargo air services as the national carrier of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, connecting domestic destinations across Laos with international routes to China, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Singapore. The airline supplements its core transportation service with ancillary offerings including charter flights, the FlyerBonus frequent flyer program, online booking and check-in platforms, and e-ticketing infrastructure powered by Sabre and Intelisys systems.
Product overview
Lao Airlines is a national airline operating as a state enterprise, providing scheduled passenger and cargo air services. The airline operates under the airline designator code QV and connects Laos to neighboring countries including China, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Singapore. The product portfolio includes core airline services supplemented by digital platforms: an online booking system and mobile application for reservations, online check-in for domestic flights, the FlyerBonus frequent flyer loyalty program, e-ticket services, and charter flight options. The airline utilizes SabreSonic Passenger Service System and SabreMosaic Travel Marketplace for retailing operations, and Intelisys-powered portals for booking and check-in functionality.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation Core scheduled passenger air transportation service connecting Laos domestically and internationally to China, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Singapore, serving leisure and business travelers.
- Charter Flights Private charter flight services for custom travel arrangements, offered to groups, organizations, and corporate clients requiring dedicated aircraft.
- Online Booking System Web-based booking platform enabling passengers to search flights, make reservations, and purchase tickets online across domestic and international routes.
- Online Check-in Self-service check-in facility available for domestic flights from 24 hours to 1 hour before departure, accessed online.
- FlyerBonus Frequent Flyer Program Loyalty program allowing members to earn and redeem points for flights, with tier benefits and lounge access.
- E-Ticket Service Electronic ticket issuance and management system stored in the airline's computer reservation system, eliminating paper tickets and simplifying changes and refunds.
- Mobile Application Lao Airlines mobile app available for iOS and Android providing booking, check-in, and flight information access to passengers.
Companies that use Lao Airlines
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Lao Airlines technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature4 records
Lao Airlines partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Sabre CorporationcoreLao Airlines signed a 10-year agreement with Sabre Corp in January 2026 to transform its offer-and-order-based retailing model. The partnership extends the existing relationship by extending use of SabreSonic Passenger Service System and joining Sabre's cloud-based PSS suite (SabreMosaic Travel Marketplace). This enables enhanced connectivity with interline and codeshare partners, streamlined automation, and operational scalability for growth across regional routes.
- BCEL (Bank of the Lao P.D.R.)minorLao Airlines and BCEL strengthened ties through a strategic partnership MOU. BCEL is a state-owned bank in Laos.
- Airline Codeshare and Interline PartnerscoreLao Airlines operates codeshare and interline partnerships with other carriers to extend network connectivity. The Sabre partnership specifically aims to enhance connectivity with interline and codeshare partners.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Lao Airlines competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cambodia Angkor Air: The national carrier of Cambodia, operating a similar model as a state-backed regional airline serving domestic routes and short-haul international flights to neighboring Southeast Asian countries. Closely comparable in scale, ownership structure, and route profile to Lao Airlines.
- Bangkok Airways: Thai regional full-service airline serving secondary cities and resort destinations across Thailand and Southeast Asia, with similar fleet scale, premium service positioning, and niche route strategy that overlaps with Lao Airlines' regional and tourism-oriented model.
- Druk Air: Royal Bhutan Airlines, the national carrier of Bhutan, with a comparable profile as a state-owned, small-scale flag carrier providing essential connectivity to a landlocked, mountainous country and limited international routes to neighboring Asian hubs.
- Myanmar National Airlines: The national carrier of Myanmar, similarly structured as a state-owned enterprise providing domestic connectivity and regional international flights to neighboring Southeast Asian countries. Directly comparable in operating model, scale, and market positioning.
- Lao Skyway: A Lao domestic airline competing directly with Lao Airlines on intra-Laos routes, offering a closely comparable business model focused on connecting secondary cities within Laos and select regional destinations.
Broad incumbents
- Vietnam Airlines: The flag carrier of Vietnam, a much larger state-owned full-service network airline operating overlapping regional routes (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City) with broader network reach, larger fleet, and stronger global brand — a key competitor on Lao Airlines' highest-volume international routes.
- Thai Airways: The flag carrier of Thailand and a major regional full-service network airline, competing with Lao Airlines on Bangkok routes and offering far greater frequency, network depth, and connecting traffic from long-haul markets.
- AirAsia: The dominant Southeast Asian low-cost carrier group operating extensive regional networks with multiple bases across ASEAN. Competes directly with Lao Airlines on regional routes via price-led competition and broader route portfolios from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore.
Emerging players
- VietJet Air: Vietnamese low-cost carrier rapidly expanding regional Southeast Asian routes, including new services to Laos. Represents a growing competitive threat on price-sensitive leisure and VFR traffic on Lao Airlines' Vietnam and Thailand routes.
- Nok Air: Thai low-cost carrier serving domestic Thailand and selective regional routes. Competes with Lao Airlines on Bangkok-Vientiane and Chiang Mai-Vientiane routes with a similar value-positioning focus on regional leisure travelers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Lao Airlines social profiles
Digital presenceLao Airlines compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Lao Airlines financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lao Airlines leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Lao Airlines funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lao Airlines M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lao Airlines
What does Lao Airlines do?
Lao Airlines operates scheduled passenger and cargo air services as the national carrier of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, connecting domestic destinations across Laos with international routes to China, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Singapore. The airline supplements its core transportation service with ancillary offerings including charter flights, the FlyerBonus frequent flyer program, online booking and check-in platforms, and e-ticketing infrastructure powered by Sabre and Intelisys systems.
Is Lao Airlines a public or private company?
Lao Airlines is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Lao Airlines founded?
Lao Airlines was founded in 1989. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Lao Airlines based?
Lao Airlines is headquartered in Vientiane, Laos, in the Asia region.
How does Lao Airlines make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Passenger Air Transportation is the primary driver. The others are charter Flights, ancillary Services and frequent Flyer Program.
Who are Lao Airlines's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cambodia Angkor Air, Bangkok Airways, Druk Air, Myanmar National Airlines and Lao Skyway. Broad incumbents are Vietnam Airlines, Thai Airways and AirAsia. Emerging players are VietJet Air and Nok Air.
Does Lao Airlines have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lao Airlines.
What industry is Lao Airlines in?
Lao Airlines's product category is Passenger Air Transportation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THABAAAF, Full-Service Airlines (Passenger + Belly Cargo Integrated), with a secondary code of THABAIAD, Passenger Handling (Check-in, Boarding, Gate Services). Its NAICS code is 481111 and its SIC code is 4512.