VIENTIANE, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- A newly-built international airport in Tonpheung district in northern Laos' Bokeo province officially opened on Monday, with an expected capacity to handle about 2 million passengers a year.
The opening ceremony of Bokeo International Airport was held at the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (GTSEZ) in Bokeo province, some 350 km northwest of the Lao capital Vientiane, Lao Army Television reported on Monday.
The ceremony was attended by Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and Governor of Bokeo Province Buakhong Nammavong, along with senior leaders and relevant officials.
The passenger terminal is expected to process more than 2 million passengers a year.
The airport is the third largest airport in Laos after Wattay International Airport in Lao capital Vientiane and Luang Prabang International Airport in northern Laos' Luang Prabang province.
Speaking at the opening ceremony on Monday, Buakhong said the construction of Bokeo International Airport is the goal of developing local infrastructure and the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in order to strengthen air transportation to connect with the international community, which will facilitate domestic and foreign tourism investment, increase the capacity to develop the infrastructure of the north, especially Bokeo province, and create jobs for people.
Bokeo International Airport is located in Simuang Ngan village, Ton Phueng district, about five km from the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone.
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, long enough to handle the landing of Airbus A320 and Boeing 737.
Construction of the airport began in September 2020 after it was decided that a larger airport was needed in Bokeo province to handle the surge in the number of tourists to the area, especially people visiting the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, according to the report. ■
