The Lao Airports Authority and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport have commenced renovation and expansion works at Pakse International Airport in southern Laos’s Champasack Province. Construction began on October 3, 2025, and is scheduled for completion within 270 days, according to Deputy Transport Minister Ngampasong Muongmany. The project aims to modernize airport facilities and improve passenger capacity and operational efficiency.
The works include expansion of the arrival and departure terminals, demolition and relocation of existing buildings, and comprehensive construction, electrical, HVAC, and sanitation system upgrades. Additional improvements include an expanded parking area and phased works starting with the departure section to minimize service disruptions.
Located three kilometres north of Pakse city, the airport has a 2,400-metre-long and 45-metre-wide asphalt runway, capable of handling ATR 72-600, Airbus A320, and Comac C909 aircraft. Operational since 1959, the airport serves as a key southern gateway for both domestic and regional tourism. The upgrade supports growing tourist arrivals in Champasack Province, which recorded 570,000 visitors in the first nine months of 2025, a 17 per cent increase year-on-year.
