Laos Opens First Privately Financed International Airport in Golden Triangle Area

Laos officially opened Bokeo International Airport on 6 March, marking a major milestone in the country’s aviation development and regional connectivity plans.

Located in Ban Nyai Simueangngam, about five kilometers from the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, the airport is the first privately financed international airport in Laos, developed under a Build–Operate–Transfer (BOT) agreement in which the company finances, constructs, and operates the facility.

The airport operates under a 50-year concession granted by the Lao government to Greater Bay Area Investment and Development (Hong Kong), an affiliate of the Dok Ngiew Kham Group, the concessionaire of the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone.

The project covers an area of approximately 300 hectares and carries an estimated construction cost of USD 175 million.

Construction began in September 2020, and the airport was built in accordance with safety standards set by Laos’ Department of Civil Aviation and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The airport features a 2,500-meter runway with a width of 45 meters, with runway shoulders measuring 7.5 meters on each side. The design allows the facility to accommodate most narrow-body aircraft commonly used on regional routes.

Aircraft such as the Boeing 737-900ER and Airbus A320 and A321, which carry up to around 200 passengers, will also be able to operate at the airport.

Economic Growth Goals

Thienthong Sopha, Director of Bokeo International Airport Co. Ltd, said the airport was designed to support economic growth, strengthen transport links, and create new employment opportunities in the region.

Domestic routes are expected to include flights to Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Houaphanh, Xieng Khouang, Savannakhet, and Champasak.

The company is also planning to open international routes to connect Bokeo with major regional destinations including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Kunming, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Phnom Penh, and Siem Reap.

According to Phoun Khampha, Director of Bokeo (public) Airport, the new facility is designed to handle up to two million passengers annually once fully operational.

Officials say the project will play an important role in supporting tourism, trade, and investment in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, one of Laos’ fastest-growing economic areas.

During the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith officially inaugurated the airport by cutting the ribbon and striking a ceremonial bell nine times to mark the opening.

source: https://laotiantimes.com/2026/03/09/laos-opens-first-privately-financed-international-airport-in-golden-triangle-area/