On March 12, West Air, a subsidiary airline of the Hainan Airlines Holding Co., Ltd., officially launched direct round-trip air service between Hunan's Changsha and Vientiane of Laos. This was the first Changsha-Vientiane route operated by a domestic airline, and also West Air's first Changsha-based international flight route. The route was previously launched by the Lao Airlines last April. 

The flight will be operated every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, serviced by Airbus 320 aircraft with the flight number of PN6561/PN6562. It takes off from the Changsha Huanghua International Airport at 14:55 Beijing time, and arrives at the Vientiane Wattay International Airport at 16:45 local time; and, the return flight starts off from Vientiane at 17:55 local time, and lands in Changsha at 22:05 Beijing time. 

Passengers may purchase air tickets on the West Air official website or its official WeChat Account, or on the major OTA (online travel agency) platforms; or, call 95373 for ticket service. 

According to the Hunan Airport Corporation, since 2023, the Changsha Huanghua International Airport has resumed operation of 17 international passenger air routes, linking Changsha with Nairobi, London, Singapore, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, and other international destinations. Meanwhile, it has ensured the stable operation of the only China-Africa passenger air route in the central regions of China. Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport has resumed 10 international and regional passenger routes, including those bounding for Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Bangkok, and Seoul, among others. 

The corporation will join hands with related airlines to launch new or increase frequency of international routes from Changsha to Ulaanbaatar and Kuala Lumpur, and those from Zhangjiajie to Manila, Seoul, and Jakarta.

An aircraft of West Air serves the Changsha-Vientiane route. (Photo provided by the correspondent)  

West Air launches a new round-trip route between Changsha and Vientiane. (Photo provided by the correspondent)