Passengers wait at the Ningbo Lishe International Airport. [Photo/Yongpai App]

As winter arrives, Southeast Asia has become a popular destination for Ningbo residents seeking warmer weather. To meet this growing demand, Ningbo Lishe International Airport is expanding its flight network by adding more direct services to the region.

On Dec14, Lao Airlines' flight QV892 departed Ningbo with 131 passengers bound for Vientiane, the capital of Laos. Operated with an Airbus A320, the new route offers one round-trip every Sunday. The outbound flight leaves Ningbo at 1:30 pm Beijing time and arrives in Vientiane at 3:50 pm local time. The return service departs Vientiane at 8:00 local time, landing in Ningbo at 12:30 pm Beijing time.

This addition builds on earlier services. Another airline launched Ningbo-Vientiane flights on Sept 20, which initially only operated on Saturdays. On Dec 6, that schedule was expanded to two weekly flights — on Mondays and Saturdays. Despite these improvements, supply continued to lag behind demand.

Statistics show that in the past two months, more than 2,000 passengers have traveled from Ningbo to Laos, with over 95 percent visiting for sightseeing and leisure. The figures highlight Laos's growing appeal as a tourism destination for travelers from Ningbo and surrounding areas.

With Lao Airlines now offering Sunday flights, Ningbo residents can enjoy more flexible in their travel planning. Airport officials noted that the new service strengthens air connectivity and supports tourism, trade, and family visits between the two cities.