Luang Prabang to get new airport for large passenger kites to land

(KPL) The Lao government is going to spend US$80 million on building a new airport in Luang Prabang, the UNESCO-listed World Heritage town in northern Laos.
The government, upbeat on tourism, is continuing with its domestic investment policy and a mega project like this airport is an indication that it sees tourist arrivals soaring to new highs when the world’s economy rebound and moves ahead at full throttle. Mr Yakua Lopangkao, Director General of the Civil Aviation Department, Laos, told KPL News yesterday that the new airport would replace the existing one, and it would be able to cater to the large passenger kites. He said that this proposal on airport construction in Luang Prabang had been unanimously approved by the cabinet and the work on it would commence at the end of this year and is scheduled for completion in 2012.
Mr Khampheng Saysompheng, Deputy Governor of Luang Prabang Province, disclosed on Tuesday that the runway of the new airport would be 2,800 metres long and its width would be 45 metres and so it is likely that the cost could be around US$100 million.
He also said the investment in the new airport would be from the Export-Import Bank of China.