Airport Name and ICAO/IATA Code
Wattay International Airport (ICAO: VLVT / IATA: VTE)
Location (City, Country)
Vientiane, Laos
Airport Type & Size
• Medium-sized international and domestic airport
• Single asphalt runway (13/31), length: 3,000 meters (9,843 ft)
• Capable of handling narrow-body aircraft (A320, B737), regional jets, and some widebodies (e.g., B767, A310 occasionally)
• Approx. 1.5–2 million passengers/year (pre-COVID levels)
• 2 terminals: International and Domestic (connected but separate facilities)
Why should this airport be added to World of Airports?
• Serves as the main international gateway to Laos
• Offers a unique mix of ASEAN regional traffic and limited long-haul links
• Realistic operations: compact apron, limited gates, and shared parking bays
• Adds diversity to the Asia route network
• Ideal for regional airline management gameplay and starter airport experience
• Realistic layout encourages strategic thinking in apron/taxiway logistics
Major Airlines & Routes
• Lao Airlines (flag carrier hub), Lao Skyway
• International:
– Thai Airways / Thai Smile → Bangkok
– Vietnam Airlines → Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh
– China Eastern / China Southern → Kunming, Guangzhou
– Jeju Air → Seoul
– Jin Air (seasonal) → Busan
• Destinations include: Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Phnom Penh, Guangzhou, Seoul, Kunming, Tokyo (charter)
Unique Features or Challenges
• Limited number of jet bridges (2), mostly remote stands
• Apron used for both international and domestic aircraft, limited separation
• Military airbase section adjacent to civilian apron (Royal Lao Air Force)
• Shared use of taxiways between terminals and hangars
• Peak traffic concentrated in short windows (early morning and late afternoon)
• Surrounded by Mekong River and low-altitude terrain, scenic approach
• Limited expansion space, tight parking during peak times
• Unique cultural aesthetics in terminal architecture (Laotian-style)
** Additional Suggestions for World of Airports Implementation**
• Possible gameplay role: New Regional Starter Hub in Southeast Asia
• Upgradeable facilities: Add new parking bays, separate terminal upgrades (domestic/international)
• Scenario idea: Host special ASEAN Summit traffic, temporary charter operations
• Realistic liveries: Lao Airlines (A320, ATR 72), Lao Skyway (MA60), Thai Smile, Vietnam Airlines (A321), China Eastern (B737), Jeju Air (B738)
• Challenge mode: “Operate under peak time constraints with shared apron and limited gates”
Optional: Links, images, maps, or videos
Wattay International Airport - Wikipedia
