Wattay Airport updates air freight services
Wattay Airport updates air freight services
The airfreight facility at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane is set to be upgraded after a deal was struck with a logistics company to improve freight handling at the nation's main arrival point.
In order to take a step towards modernity in air freight handling, the Wattay airport terminal management has elected to grant a concession for the freight warehouse to the Lao logistics firm.
Hung Huang (Lao) Logistics Co., Ltd. has secured a five year concession on the Wattay International Airport freight warehouse, which was officially opened on Monday evening.
The facility commenced processing air cargo services as of today. The Lao-Japan Airport Terminal Service Company granted the concession to Hung Huang Lao Ltd, giving it the right to operate air freight services at Wattay airport for the next five years.
General Director of Lao-Japan Airport Terminal Service Mr Kaykeo Vorarath said at the opening of the new warehouse that previously other companies had been contracted to provide air freight services but those arrangements were cancelled due to inefficiencies.
“We agreed to issue the concession of the air freight facility at Wattay International Airport to Hung Huang (Lao) Logistics Company because we saw that the efficiency of the company was greater than other logistics providers,” Mr Kaykeo said.
The Hung Huang Lao Company is partnering with Thailand's Pro Freight to provide consultation in the administration of air freight services. In addition, it is already providing air cargo services for popular airlines including AirAsia and Bangkok Airways, he said.
The air cargo facility was designed by the Japan Consultation Company (Azusu Sekkei), which supervised the installation of X-ray machines and other equipment valued at over US$2.2 million.
Hung Huang (Lao) Logistics Co., Ltd. President Ms Khatthachanh Chanthaboury told Vientiane Times the company may elect to renew the deal at the end of the five year concession period.
“We will provide air cargo facilities for all arriving and departing flights to Wattay International Airport with the exception of Lao Airlines because this airline has its own warehouse at the airport,” she said.
The company confirmed that operations at the new air freight facility at Vientiane's Wattay International Airport will be streamlined to ensure that cargo is processed quickly and more efficiently.
The Hung Huang (Lao) Logistics Company inked the five-year concession deal with the Lao-Japan Airport Terminal Service Company on Thursday last week.
“The air freight facility is large and employs modern technology in the operation of services,” Ms Khatthachanh said.
The company expects that some 2,000 tonnes of cargo will be delivered to the building each month.
The upgrade was made to ensure that a large amount of cargo can be processed when Laos becomes part of the Asean Economic Community at the end of this year.
The expansion of the air freight facility in Vientiane will facilitate the development of Laos' aviation industry and ensure that regional and international links are enhanced.
