Airline codes
QV · LAO
IATA · ICAO · callsign “LAO”
Every Lao Airlines flight number begins with QV. Flight-tracking sites and air traffic control use the ICAO code LAO, and the radio callsign is LAO.
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Lao Airlines (QV) Guide
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Airline
Flights from Vientiane and Luang Prabang to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Vietnam, China and Korea: routes, fleet, baggage by fare type, check-in and tips for Lao Airlines. Ask a question
In short
Lao Airlines is the national airline of Laos, with hubs at Vientiane Wattay and Luang Prabang. It flies within Laos and to Thailand, China, Vietnam, Korea and Cambodia, including Vientiane–Bangkok and Luang Prabang–Chiang Mai. There is no alliance. Cabins are Business and Economy; Economy includes 20 kg checked except on Easy fares, and Business 30 kg.
Lao Airlines is the flag carrier of Laos, based at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane.
Please note: bookingMentor is an independent travel service and is not affiliated with Lao Airlines. Routes, schedules and baggage rules change, so always confirm the details of your booking with the airline.
What to expect
Lao Airlines is the national airline of Laos and the country's main link with its neighbours. It was founded on 10 January 1976, and today it runs a small fleet from two hubs: Wattay International Airport in Vientiane and Luang Prabang International Airport in the old royal capital.
Thailand is where most international visitors meet the airline. Three routes matter:
- Vientiane to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, the airline's main Thai route.
- Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai, a short hop across the hills of northern Thailand and Laos.
- Luang Prabang to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, listed as resuming on 25 October 2026.
Beyond Thailand, Lao Airlines flies to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, to Seoul Incheon, to Siem Reap in Cambodia, and to a long list of Chinese cities including Kunming, Guangzhou, Changsha, Hangzhou and Shanghai. At home it connects Vientiane with Luang Prabang, Pakse, Savannakhet, Phonsavan, Luang Namtha and Xam Neua.
For long-haul travellers, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi is the simplest place to join the airline: most intercontinental flights land there, and the Lao Airlines flight to Vientiane, and to Luang Prabang once that route is back, leaves from the same airport.
How did Lao Airlines begin?
The airline was created on 10 January 1976 as the Civil Aviation Company, and in September that year it absorbed the earlier carriers Royal Air Lao and Lao Air Lines. It was renamed Lao Aviation in 1979 and later Lao Airlines. In the 1990s its fleet still included the Yakovlev Yak-40 and Harbin Y-12, and from the mid-1990s it began switching to ATR turboprops, followed by Airbus A320 jets. The airline belongs to the Lao Ministry of Public Works and Transport, employs about 1,000 people and uses the codes QV (IATA) and LAO (ICAO).
Codeshares and 19 interline agreements
Besides its Bangkok Airways and VietJet Air codeshares, Lao Airlines has interline agreements with 19 airlines, including Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Vietnam Airlines.
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Good to know
- AllianceNone
- Founded1976
- Online check-inYes
Everything you should know
At a glance
Lao Airlines (IATA: QV, ICAO: LAO) is the national airline of Laos, with roots in 1976 and hubs at Vientiane Wattay and Luang Prabang. It flies Airbus A320, ATR 72 and Comac C909 aircraft within Laos and to Thailand, Vietnam, China, Cambodia and South Korea, including Vientiane–Bangkok and Luang Prabang–Chiang Mai.
| Headquarters | Vientiane, Laos |
|---|---|
| Fleet types | Airbus A320, ATR 72-500, ATR 72-600, Comac C909 |
| Official website | laoairlines.com |
Flight routes
Destinations and routes
Lao Airlines adds, pauses and reschedules routes from time to time; its Vientiane–Da Nang flights, for one, are currently suspended. These are established destinations; confirm the current schedule when you search.
Search flights
Laos
Vientiane (VTE) departures6 destinations
FromTo VTE LPQ VientianeLuang Prabang Available airlines1 airline- Lao Airlines
FromTo VTE PKZ VientianePakse Available airlines1 airline- Lao Airlines
FromTo VTE ZVK VientianeSavannakhet Available airlines1 airline- Lao Airlines
FromTo VTE XKH VientianePhonsavan Available airlines1 airline- Lao Airlines
FromTo VTE LXG VientianeLuang Namtha Available airlines1 airline- Lao Airlines
FromTo VTE NEU VientianeXam Neua Available airlines1 airline- Lao Airlines
Thailand
Vientiane (VTE) departures2 destinations
FromTo VTE BKK VientianeBangkok Suvarnabhumi Available airlines1 airline- Lao Airlines
FromTo VTE CNX VientianeChiang Mai Available airlines1 airline- Lao Airlines
Southeast Asia
Vientiane (VTE) departures3 destinations
FromTo VTE HAN VientianeHanoi Available airlines1 airline- Lao Airlines
FromTo VTE SGN VientianeHo Chi Minh City Available airlines1 airline- Lao Airlines
FromTo VTE SAI VientianeSiem Reap Available airlines1 airline- Lao Airlines
East Asia
Vientiane (VTE) departures7 destinations
FromTo VTE KMG VientianeKunming Available airlines1 airline- Lao Airlines
FromTo VTE CAN VientianeGuangzhou Available airlines1 airline- Lao Airlines
FromTo VTE CSX VientianeChangsha Available airlines1 airline- Lao Airlines
FromTo VTE HGH VientianeHangzhou Available airlines1 airline- Lao Airlines
FromTo VTE PVG VientianeShanghai Pudong Available airlines1 airline- Lao Airlines
FromTo VTE NNG VientianeNanning Available airlines1 airline- Lao Airlines
FromTo VTE ICN VientianeSeoul Incheon Available airlines1 airline- Lao Airlines
Fleet and aircraft
As of July 2026 the airline flew 13 aircraft: four Airbus A320s with 16 business and 126 economy seats, four ATR 72-500s and three ATR 72-600s with 70 seats each, and two Comac C909 regional jets with 90 seats, with four more C909s on order. In May 2025 Lao Airlines became the second airline outside China, after Indonesia's TransNusa, to operate the Chinese-built Comac C909. Pakse in the south is a focus city alongside the Vientiane and Luang Prabang hubs, and the airline lists about 21 destinations.
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Airbus A320 Narrow-body Busier regional routes, with 16 business and 126 economy seats
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ATR 72-500 Turboprop Domestic and short regional routes, 70 seats
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ATR 72-600 Turboprop Domestic and short regional routes, 70 seats
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Comac C909 Regional jet Regional routes, 90 seats
Cabin classes
Two cabins on the A320, one on the rest of the fleet.
Business A320 only
Front cabin
30 kg checked baggageSeparate cabin at the frontAvailable on A320 flights
Economy All flights
Fare types from Easy to Gold
7 kg cabin bag20 kg checked bag on most faresNo free checked bag on Easy fares
Frequent flyer programme
Details of the Lao Airlines loyalty programme are being added
Add your membership number when you book to earn miles.
Baggage allowance
Your allowance depends on your fare type and cabin. The exact amount is printed on your booking.
Cabin baggage
1 piece, 7 kg, 115 cm
Economy checked
20 kg (none on Easy)
Business checked
30 kg
Infants
10 kg
Economy allows one 7 kg cabin bag. Checked baggage is 20 kg on Saving, Promo, Silver and Gold fares, 30 kg in Business, and none on Easy fares.
Pro tip: check which fare type you are buying; the Easy fare has no free checked bag.
Travel day
Online Check-in
The four steps below take you from your Lao Airlines booking to the gate, whether you depart from VTE or another airport on its network.
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Step 1
Check in online
Use laoairlines.com or app to check in for eligible flights. Have your Lao Airlines booking reference or e-ticket number and your surname ready.
Booking ref + surname -
Step 2
Prepare your documents
International Lao Airlines passengers need a passport and whatever visa, residence permit or entry documents the destination requires.
Passport · visa · ID -
Step 3
Arrive early
Get to the airport with time for Lao Airlines check-in, bag drop and security. The airline sets a deadline for each airport, shown in your booking, and late arrivals can lose their seat.
Well before departure -
Step 4
Drop your bags
Lao Airlines desks and bag-drop points take your hold luggage. Keep the bag-tag receipt with your boarding pass until the bags come off at the end of your QV trip.
Lao Airlines counter
Ready to check in?
Check in and manage your booking on the official Lao Airlines website.
Save money
Cheap tickets
Habits that make a Lao Airlines trip into Vientiane or Luang Prabang cheaper and smoother.
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01
Read the fare type
Two Lao Airlines fares can look almost the same on a search page. The Easy fare leaves out checked baggage, so a few dollars more for Saving or Promo often pays for itself.
Easy vs Saving -
02
Stay at Suvarnabhumi
Most long-haul and regional arrivals reach Bangkok at Suvarnabhumi, and Lao Airlines leaves from there too. Avoid itineraries that switch you to Don Mueang.
Same-airport connection -
03
Carry the card you paid with
If someone else paid for your ticket or the payment skipped 3D Secure, sort it out before you travel, as the airline can ask to see the card at check-in.
Card verification -
04
Combine air and rail
Fly into one city and take the Laos–China railway to the other, so you see more of the country without paying for an extra flight.
Vientiane–Luang Prabang -
05
Compare fares for a free bag
The cheapest Easy fare carries no free checked bag. If you are heading to Laos for a week or more, compare it with the Saving or Promo fare, which includes 20 kg.
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Ready to compare fares?
Search Lao Airlines alongside every other airline on your route, with flexible dates.
Search Lao Airlines flights
Reviews and questions
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Visitors are asking
QV.
Wattay International Airport in Vientiane (VTE), about 3 km from the city centre, with Luang Prabang as a second hub.
Yes, from Luang Prabang.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Everything travellers ask before flying Lao Airlines.
Answers checked against Lao Airlines’ official sources and public aviation references, and reviewed each season.
Getting there
Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Vietnam, China, Seoul and Siem Reap, from Vientiane and Luang Prabang.
Suvarnabhumi (BKK). Its old Don Mueang service has ended, so if a site offers you Don Mueang on a QV flight number, look again before you pay.
Yes. Lao Airlines runs a direct service between Chiang Mai and Luang Prabang, and the airline's booking engine lists Chiang Mai as a departure point. It is a short flight, and timings vary by season, so check the current schedule for your dates.
Lao Airlines is listed as restarting Bangkok Suvarnabhumi to Luang Prabang on 25 October 2026. Until it shows up in the booking engine for your dates, the alternatives are flying via Vientiane or taking the Chiang Mai service.
It depends on the fare. Easy fares include no free checked bag. Saving, Promo, Silver and Gold fares include 20 kg, and Business includes 30 kg. Infants get 10 kg on fares that include baggage.
Economy passengers may carry one piece of up to 7 kg, with length, width and height adding up to no more than 115 cm. Staff can refuse an oversized bag at the gate and send it to the hold.
Yes, on its Airbus A320s, which carry 16 business seats ahead of the economy cabin. The ATR 72 turboprops that fly the shorter routes have economy seats only, so a business fare is not offered on every flight.
Airbus A320 jets, ATR 72-500 and ATR 72-600 turboprops with 70 seats, and the Chinese-built Comac C909 regional jet. In 2025 it became the second airline outside China to fly the C909 commercially.
Yes. Online check-in is available on the official website. Bring your passport and visa to the counter all the same, because documents are checked before boarding on international flights.
Yes, it is called ChampaBonus. You can sign up and manage your account on the Lao Airlines website.
No. It works through codeshare deals with Bangkok Airways and VietJet Air, and interline agreements with carriers such as Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Qatar Airways.
Yes. The Laos–China railway, opened in December 2021, has major passenger stations at Vientiane and Luang Prabang. It is a useful alternative to the domestic flight, and it continues north to the Chinese border.
A Chinese-built regional jet; Lao Airlines' two C909s have 90 seats each. It has flown the type since May 2025 and has four more on order.
Prices & payment
Possibly. Lao Airlines asks that the card used to buy the ticket belongs to someone who is travelling, and if the payment was not 3D Secure verified, it can ask to see the card and photo ID at check-in. Passengers who cannot show them may be refused boarding.
Booking
Sometimes. Lao Airlines has interline agreements with several larger airlines, which lets a travel agent issue one ticket with your bag checked through. On two separate tickets you must collect your bag in Bangkok and check in again, which means passing through Thai immigration.
13 as of July 2026: four Airbus A320s, seven ATR 72 turboprops and two Comac C909 jets.