(KPL) On February 5, Bokeo Province and Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone officially opened a newly-built international airport after starting construction for three years.

The airport construction project with worth more than 225 million US dollars of the construction can support more than 2 million passengers per year and it is the 3rd largest airport in Lao PDR after Wattay International Airport and Luang Prabang International Airport.

The opening ceremony of Bokeo International Airport was held at the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Tonpheung district, Bokeo Province, in the presence of Mr Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of the Lao PDR, Mr. Buakhong Nammavong, Governor of Bokeo Province, Mr. Zhao Wei, Chairman of Administration Board of the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, senior leaders and relevant officials.

Mr. Buakhong, Governor of Bokeo Province, said at the opening ceremony of the airport that the construction of Bokeo International Airport is the goal of the development of local infrastructure and the development of the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in order to strengthen air transportation to connect with the international community, facilitate domestic and foreign tourism investment, increase the capacity to develop the infrastructure of the North, especially Bokeo Province, create jobs for people.

The project is a 100% build-operation-transfer investment by the Greater Bay Area Investments and development Limited. 

Under a concession period of 50 years and renewable according to the government's agreement.

The airport is built on 314 hectares and 5,478 square meters with a  2,700-meter runway and it can be extended up to 3,000 meters, can handle the landing of Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, the passenger building can support  enter and exit 600 passengers at the same time.

To begin with, the airport will be open for domestic flights only, using ATR 72 or equivalent size aircraft, as stated in the Concession Agreement for the International Airport Project.

Lao Airlines that will fly Vientiane-Bokeo-Vientiane, the relevant parties are discussing to prepare the readiness and plan to set the flight together, Lao Skyway and Lanexang Airways are still operating normally.

KPL