AirAsia has just launched a route that connects Bangkok and Hanoi via Luang Prabang in Laos, giving travellers between these two tourism destinations a budget way to get between them. The airline will begin operating this route on December 1, just in time for the year-end peak season.
Santisuk Klongchaiya, Chief Executive Officer of Thai AirAsia, said, ‘We are excited to introduce this new route under Fifth Freedom rights, with Luang Prabang designated as our first-ever stopover city. This allows us to expand into new markets, particularly by offering daily direct flights between Luang Prabang and Hanoi. We believe the route will be well-received by international travelers seeking seamless connections between leading tourism destinations. Both Hanoi and Luang Prabang are growing highlights in the region.’
This is AirAsia’s fifth route that includes stopovers, but the previous four all connected to Japan with stopovers in Taiwan or Hong Kong. This is the first of the budget airline’s routes to have a stopover within Southeast Asia. This will come as a relief to travellers on a tight budget, as there currently aren’t any other budget airlines offering direct flights between these locations.
Before this flight route became an option, if you weren’t willing to spring for a premium-priced flight on Vietnam Airlines or Lao Airlines, you would have to take a bus between the two locations. The bus is notoriously unpredictable. Bad weather has left travellers stranded on the street, bad road conditions make the experience bumpy, and crossing between the countries’ borders can be stressful.
Flying was already the best option, and now it’s even more viable because AirAsia is offering a budget option that’s sometimes half the price of its competitors. You can book tickets now via AirAsia MOVE, the website, and other channels.
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