‘Backpacking Sanctuary’ Sky Route Opens! … Air Busan Operates Charter Flights on Incheon-Vientiane Route

A321neo(LR) aircraft.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] Air Busan is targeting a niche market by operating charter flights on the international route to Vientiane, Laos.

Air Busan will operate charter flights on the Incheon-Vientiane route for about five months from October 1 this year to February 25 next year.

Air Busan's Incheon-Vientiane charter flight departs from Incheon International Airport at 8:10 PM and arrives at Vientiane Wattay Airport at 11:20 PM.

The return flight departs from the local airport at 12:20 AM and arrives at Incheon International Airport at 7:20 AM, operating twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The flight time is approximately 5 hours and 10 minutes, and the aircraft deployed is an A321neo with 220 seats.

In August alone, about 4,000 passengers traveled on the Incheon-Vientiane route, which is a considerable number, but currently only Laotian national airlines operate this route, making it somewhat inconvenient for domestic travelers to use.

However, starting in October, Air Busan will be the only domestic airline operating the Vientiane route, making it easier for domestic travelers to visit Laos.

Additionally, this charter flight is not an irregularly operated charter but operates regularly twice a week, making it easier to plan travel schedules in advance.

Before COVID-19, Laos was known as a "backpacker’s paradise," with numerous historical sites influenced by French and Buddhist cultures, offering a travel destination where East and West harmonize, and it also has developed night markets for culinary tourism.

Recently, it has also gained attention as a cost-effective golf tour destination. There are five golf courses with 18 holes or more near Vientiane, and compared to golf tours in other Southeast Asian countries, the prices are cheaper, gaining popularity by word of mouth.

Currently, Laos allows visa-free travel for 30 days, and travelers holding an English certificate of the second COVID-19 vaccination can enter without a separate PCR test.

An Air Busan official said, “We are committed to creating new demand by actively discovering international irregular flights, such as the Vientiane charter flight, to target niche travel markets.”