There are two domestic airlines in Laos, Lao Airlines and Lao Skyway.
Laos Airlines is the flag carrier of Laos and is headquartered in Vientiane. Wattay International Airport is the main hub for the airline, operating to many domestic and international destinations including Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, Pakse and many more. The airline is equipped with a fleet of Airbus 320, ATR 72-500 and ATR 72-600.
Lao Skyway is originally known as Lao Air, it flies to many destinations within Laos including Xieng Khouang, Pakse, Sam Neua and many more. All destinations are flown with a fleet of Cessna 208 Grand Caravan and MA-60.
Due to the landscape and the country shape, air travel is more efficient than road travel if you are travelling from one part of the country to another. For example, travelling from Vientiane to Pakse would save 10 hours by plane than by car.
A few examples of domestic Laos routes are:
Vientiane (VTE) ➡ Houeisay (HOE)
Pakse (PKZ) ➡ Vientiane (VTE)
Luang Prabang (LPQ) ➡ Vientiane (VTE)
Laos is a gorgeous country with great scenery and undiscovered destinations for tourists. There are spectacular waterfalls, religious parks, historic sites and many more across the country.
Check-in details for airlines that fly within Laos are as follow:
Online: Online check-in isn't available.
Airport: Opens 1.5 hours before scheduled departure time.
Online: Online check-in isn't available.
Airport: Please refer to your ticket.
Domestic flights are essentially travelling from one part of the country to another part of the country by air. For instance, from Luang Prabang to the capital of Laos, Vientiane.
There are many internal routes in Laos including Vientiane to Pakse, Savannakhet to Vientiane, Oudomxay to Vientiane.
Currently, two airlines are serving the domestic market in Laos. There are charter airlines as well as scheduled airlines, but only Lao Airlines is operating routes out of Laos.
If you are a resident of Laos, you won't need to travel with a passport, all you'll need is a valid government-issued photographic identification. Otherwise, a passport is required.
It's recommended that all passengers arrive at the airport two hours before the scheduled departure time especially if you're not familiar with the airport layout.
Yes, you can book your internal flights in Laos online when booking with Alternative Airlines. Simply use our search form and enter your departing and arriving airport, travel dates, number of passengers and cabin class.