The under-construction international airport in Bokeo province.

Bokeo international airport 86 now percent complete

Construction of an international airport in Tonpheung district, Bokeo province, is now 86 percent complete, with the facility scheduled to open for domestic flights at the end of this year.
The airport will offer return flights from Vientiane to Bokeo on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday each week and will open for international travel soon afterwards.
Construction began in September 2020, since when a runway, taxiway and a parking lot have been built. The passenger terminal and other facilities are now almost complete.
The new airport is being built to handle an anticipated surge in the number of tourists to the area, especially people visiting the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, which contains a number of recreational facilities and attracts visitors from China.  
The airport is located close to the Special Economic Zone and covers 300 hectares. It is the second airport in Bokeo province in addition to the existing small airport located in the provincial capital, Huayxai district, which can handle only small aircraft.
The new international airport is designed to accommodate much larger aircraft including the Boeing 747 and Airbus 320.
The passenger terminal can handle up to 600 people and when fully operational is expected to accommodate 1.5 to 2 million passengers a year. Project Director Dr Hongkham Oudomchit said construction was initially scheduled for completion in 2022 but work was delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic and work will now be complete in 2023.
“All aspects of construction are now 86 percent complete and the project will be finished in 2023,” Dr Hongkham confirmed.
The construction cost of US$175 million is being financed by the Hong Kong-based Greater Bay Area Investment and Development (HK) Limited, which is a member of the Dok Ngiew Kham Group.
The airport will be operated under the Build-Operate-Transfer model and the developer has been granted a 50-year concession.
Laos’ main airports are Wattay Airport International in Vientiane and smaller airports in Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, Savannakhet and Champassak provinces.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update November 1, 2022)