page_title: Lao Airlines
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Lao Airlines / History
caption_attribution_description: Lao Airlines' ATR-72 (RDPL-34132) with plumeria livery at Pakxe (Pakse) Airport, Laos.
context_page_description: Lao Airlines State Enterprise is the national airline of Laos, headquartered in Vientiane. It operates domestic and international services to countries such as Cambodia, China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its main operating base is Wattay International Airport in Vientiane. It is subordinate to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.
context_section_description: In September 1976, the company was formed from the merger of existing airlines Royal Air Lao and Lao Air Lines. The company became Lao Aviation in 1979. 
  In 2000, a joint venture with China Yunnan Airlines and the Lao government was formed, which re-nationalized Lao Aviation.
  The A320s are the first jet aircraft to be purchased by Lao Airlines and feature a two-class layout seating 126 passengers in the main cabin and 16 in Business Class and are powered by CFM International CFM56 engines.
caption: Lao Airlines ATR 72-200 (RDPL-34132) with plumeria livery at Pakse International Airport, Laos