Saftey Record on Laos Airlines?
 

I am trying to plan a trip to Vietnam (in HCMC and out Hanoi) from Bangkok with a few days stop-over in Luan Probang. Bangkok Air's discovery pass seems like a great idea but I have heard some very bad things about the safety record on Laos Airlines. Is there anything to substantiate this claim? Should I spend more money to ensure I am avoiding this airline? Thanks!

The airline has a bad reputation that apparently was warranted but they have improved some. I flew them several times a few years ago without incident. From what I understand, they are moving away from Chinese planes, the ones that are the most problematic. When you book with them, ask what kind of plane it will be. Ask to be on a flight that uses French planes as they are safer--less mechanical problems.

In the past, their record was so bad that diplomats and NGO workers were routinely told to avoid them. They flew these awful little CHinese and Russian built planes that were very old and not in good repair.

Like Laurie says, check on what kind of plane is flying that route. Frankly, if it was a Chinese or Russian built plane, I wouldn't fly it.

airquality.com Happy Travels!

I've been on them a few times and they were fine - my brother in law lives in Vientiane and flys them all the time for his work with an NGO. They probably still aren't the best but the old reputation was mainly about the old Russian and Chinese planes. These are only used now for the little airstrips so if you are on the main routes you'll get the newer planes. Some flights like BKK to Vientiane are codeshared with Thai and fly thai planes too. Most problems now relate to schedules - if its raining really heavily as it does there then the flights will probably be late and some of the tiny strips they just can't get out at all for fog and rain but if you are only doing Luang Prabang you won't have much bother - except maybe a delay for rain etc.

it is possible to fly on bkk air and not use lao planes....just schedule carefully

Lao Airlines use modern Airbus A-320'a and ATR-72's ( the turbo props as used by Bangkok Airways etc ) on their international routes.
But at the moment anyhow between BKK and Luang Prabang is only showing Bangkok Airways flights as existing.