Exploring The Popularity Of Pakse Airport And Its Users

Pakse International Airport is located in the Champasak province of Southern Laos, around 3km north of the provincial capital, Pakse. It is one of four international airports in Laos and has been in use since 1959, reopening after renovations in 2001. The airport is served by two airlines, Lao Airlines and Lao Skyway, and has non-stop flights to five destinations in three countries. It is also used by the military, with Lao People's Army barracks located next to the airport.

The airport's history and renovations

Pakse International Airport (IATA: PKZ, ICAO: VLPS) is located in the Champasak province of Southern Laos, approximately 3km north of Pakse, the former southern capital city of the Kingdom of Champasak. It is one of only four international airports in Laos and has been in operation since 1959.

The airport is jointly operated by the Military of Laos and the Civil Aviation Authority. While primarily a civilian airport, it also serves as a military airfield for Lao People's Liberation Army Air Force aircraft and is located near the Lao People's Army barracks and the headquarters of Military Region 4.

The airport underwent significant renovations in 2001, which included the construction of a new control tower to provide ATC (Air Traffic Control) services. The terminal building is designed to reflect the Lan Xang-style architecture used for Buddhist temples in Laos.

The first phase of improvement works began in March 2008, with the runway being extended and resurfaced to accommodate jet aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. The airport was temporarily closed twice during this phase and officially reopened on June 1, 2010. The second phase of development is expected to include further runway extensions, the installation of runway lights, improved parking bays, and the expansion of the control tower.

Airlines and destinations

Pakse International Airport is served by two airlines: Lao Airlines and Lao Skyway. The former operates 91% of all departures, with the remaining 9% operated by the latter.

The airport offers flights to 4 or 5 destinations, depending on the source. These include:

• Guangzhou, China
• Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
• Luang Prabang, Laos
• Siem Reap, Cambodia
• Vientiane, Laos

The route with the most departures is the route to Vientiane, with an average of 13 flights from Pakse every week. There are also international flights to Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap.

The longest flight from Pakse is to Guangzhou, China, a 467-mile (751 km) non-stop route that takes around 2 hours.

Accidents and incidents

On 16 October 2013, Lao Airlines Flight 301, an ATR 72–600, crashed into the Mekong River on its approach to Pakse Airport. All 49 people on board were killed.

The probable cause of the accident was the "sudden change of weather condition and the flight crew's failure to properly execute the published instrument approach, including the published missed approach procedure, which resulted in the aircraft impacting the terrain".

The following factors may have contributed to the crash:

• The flight crew's decision to continue the approach below the published minima.
• The flight crew's selection of an altitude in the ALT SEL window, which was below the approach minima, leading to misleading FD horizontal bar readings during the go-around.
• Possible somatogravic illusions suffered by the pilot flying the aircraft.
• The automatic reappearance of the FD crossbars, consistent with the operating logic of the aeroplane systems, but inappropriate for the go-around.
• The inadequate monitoring of primary flight parameters during the go-around, worsened by the other pilot's attention being wholly focused on the management of the aircraft flap configuration.
• The flight crew's limited coordination, leading to a mismatch of action plans between the pilot flying and the pilot monitoring during the final approach.

Popular destinations and flight prices

Pakse International Airport is one of four international airports in Laos. It is the third-largest airport in the country, from which you can fly to four destinations with two airlines in scheduled passenger traffic.

The most popular destinations from Pakse Airport are:

• Vientiane (VTE) – 84 flights per month
• Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) – 13 flights per month
• Luang Prabang (LPQ) – 13 flights per month
• Siem Reap (SAI) – 13 flights per month
• Guangzhou (CAN) – 5 flights per month

Other destinations that require a stopover include Istanbul, Dubai, Shanghai, and Beijing.

The route with the most departures is the route to Vientiane, with an average of 13 flights from Pakse every week. There are also international flights to Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap.

Lao Airlines and Lao Skyway are the only two airlines operating from Pakse Airport. Lao Airlines accounts for 91% of all departures.

The price of flights from Pakse Airport varies depending on the destination and the time of booking. Round-trip prices range from $286 to $1,298, and one-way flights start as low as $143.

Airport code and location

Pakse International Airport, also known as Pakse Airport, is located in Laos and has the airport code PKZ. It is one of four international airports in Laos and is the third-largest airport in the country. The airport has been in use since 1959 and reopened after renovations in 2001. The terminal building is designed in the Lan Xang style of architecture, which is also used for Buddhist temples in Laos. The airport is used by civilians and the military. The Lao People's Army barracks and the headquarters of Military Region 4 are located next to the airport.

Frequently asked questions