SilkAir, the regional wing of national carrier Singapore Airlines, will offer more flights to Laos under a codeshare agreement with Lao Airlines signed on Wednesday (Jul 27).
The carrier said that from Oct 31, SilkAir will offer three weekly flights on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays from Singapore to the Laotian cities of Vientiane and Luang Prabang.
The new service will operate in a circular route and will depart from Singapore for Vientiane, followed by Luang Prabang, before heading back to Singapore.
On the same day that the new service starts, Lao Airlines will also add its - "QV" - airline designator code to selected SilkAir-operated flights between Singapore, Vientiane and Luang Prabang, SilkAir said in the news release.
In turn, SilkAir will add its airline designator code - "MI" - to several Lao Airlines-operated flights between Singapore, Vientiane and Luang Prabang starting Sep 1, subject to regulatory approval.
In total, the codeshare agreement gives customers a choice of six weekly flights from Singapore to Laos between the two airlines, SilkAir said.
Flights will be available for booking on a progressive basis through the SilkAir website, call centres and travel agents in the coming weeks, the carrier added.
SilkAir vice president Ryan Pua said the new agreement will allow the airline to promote Laos as an emerging destination more effectively to its network. "We hope the enhanced connectivity will bring about a greater flow of visitors between the countries," he said.
Meanwhile, Lao Airlines vice president Sengpraseuth Mathouchanh said the cooperation between the two carriers will strengthen the relationship between Laos and Singapore as part of the ASEAN Economic Community.
"This cooperation will especially help to promote the tourist and investment activities among the two countries as well as ASEAN countries."
The signing ceremony on Wednesday was witnessed by Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan and his Laotian counterpart Saleumxay Kommasith.
- Channel NewsAsia
