Luang Prabang airport upgrade
March 2, 2010 by Rapeepat Mantanarat
Filed under News
Work on upgrading Luang Prabang Airport, announced last year, will start this month and should be ready by 2013.
The local newspaper, Vientiane Times reported land clearance was underway to prepare for construction of what was described as the new Luang Prabang Airport. It involves an additional runway and approaches as well as an improved terminal building at the current airport site. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held this month.
Luang Prabang airport
Airline services will continue as usual during construction of the new facility.
Provincial deputy governor, Khampheng Saysom-pheng, said at least 500 families face relocation at the construction site and officials are developing new areas to accommodate them. Many of the families oppose leaving their homes for an airport development, which they claim does not benefit rural communities, just big business that will capitalise on larger aircraft being able to land at the world heritage town.
The project was announced in September 2009. The cost of building the runway and terminal is covered by a US$86.4 million loan, financed by the Chinese government under an agreement reached during a visit to China by Lao president, Choummaly Sayasone during 6 to 13 September last year.
China is keen to establish flights to Luang Prabang to support its investment ambitions in North Laos.
The new airport’s runway will be 3,000-metre long, parallel to the existing one which stretches 2,200 metres. It will be the same length as Wattay Airport in Vientiane. Once completed the old runway will be used as a taxi way.
When finished, it will be able to accommodate aircraft capable of carrying 400 passengers, compared with today’s aircraft capacity limited to 70 passengers a flight. A parking apron will be accommodated four jet aircraft and seven ATR planes.
The deputy governor said: “We hope the new airport will be an important transit point for the northern provinces and link the town with other countries in the region. Overseas tourists and business people who want to visit, or conduct business in the northern provinces, will use Luang Prabang as a gateway.”
Luang Prabang province has direct flights to Vietnam ‘s capital Hanoi, Thailand ‘s Bangkok, Udon Thani and Chiang Mai, and Cambodia ‘s Siem Reap. Up to about 70% of tourists visiting Luang Prabang arrive by air on small ATR72, MA60 or AN-24.
the best and quickly way to destroy Luang Prabang. What UNESCO says about that?? Where are they??
Greed will once again kill off a pristine corner of the world. Already the infrastructure of Luang Prabang cannot cope with the hordes of tatty backpackers and up-market tourists pay a premium for accommodation, but they don’t want throngs. The environment will suffer, the tone will suffer and the heritage site will be lost. No doubt some grubby pols are raking in the bribes because this one will be an instant cash cow for kickbacks and corruption. This is yet another Chinese colonial move, geared to consolidate power and not benefit the local people.
I am VERY disappointed in this decision. It means that Luang Prabang will be inundated with large aircraft that will take up to about 350 pax. Maybe Luamg Prabang as a city can handle that many people but, heck, what will happen to the so called “UNESCO heritage town”. I have family who live in the village of Nong Say near the airport who will not be affected by this decision, however since I have been coming here since 1994, I know what this will do! No longer will it be the “sleepy hollow” of Indochina and will lose it’s attractiveness. I agree with Kit, – stupidity and greed!
2013: year of the death of Luang Prabang.
400-seaters to land? Stupidity and greed.