Wattay International Airport is Laos’s principal gateway to the world, and by the early 2010s its facilities were struggling to keep pace with rapidly growing air passenger traffic. To address this, the Government of Japan provided a JPY 9 billion Official Development Assistance loan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for a comprehensive US$86 million expansion and renovation of the airport’s international and domestic passenger terminals in Vientiane. Launched in 2014 and completed in 2020, the project involved the construction of a new three-storey international terminal expansion of 11,500 m², renovation of an additional 3,200 m² of existing space, and a two-storey domestic terminal expansion of 6,500 m², along with a temporary single-storey domestic terminal of 1,610 m², a 432 m² airport maintenance workshop, new utility systems, and extensive infrastructure works covering over 27,700 m² of pavement, drainage, taxiway lighting, and landscaping. The project also included full fit out of all buildings and [usually refers to completing building interior space]  of passenger-transit facility equipment such as boarding bridges, baggage handling systems, security screening equipment, and ramp buses.

As a joint venture partner alongside lead firm Nippon Koei Co. Ltd. and Azusa Sekkei Co. Ltd., LCG provided a full spectrum of construction management and supervision services throughout the project’s 73-month duration. LCG’s team conducted comprehensive engineering surveys — including topographical, geotechnical, and materials availability assessments — and prepared detailed multidisciplinary designs covering architectural, structural, electrical, mechanical, and infrastructure elements. LCG also prepared bills of quantities, contributed to the technical specifications, prequalification documents, and bidding documents, and supported the client through contractor evaluation and selection. During construction, LCG provided a team to support the lead firm for on-site supervision and managed the handover process, including defect monitoring throughout the defect’s liability period. LCG additionally assisted in implementing the project’s Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan (EMMP), ensuring that works were delivered in compliance with environmental safeguard requirements.

The successful completion of the Wattay Airport Terminal Expansion Project marked a pivotal moment for Laos’s connectivity and economic ambitions. The expanded airport — capable of handling over 2.3 million passengers annually — transformed Wattay from an overstretched facility into a modern, internationally competitive gateway befitting the capital of a growing economy. By helping deliver upgraded passenger terminals, security infrastructure, and support facilities to international standards, LCG contributed directly to improving the travel experience for millions of passengers and strengthening Laos’s trade and tourism linkages with the wider region. The project stands as a testament to LCG’s capacity to serve as a trusted technical partner on large-scale, donor-funded infrastructure assignments — bringing local knowledge, engineering depth, and project management capability to one of the most strategically significant infrastructure investments in the country’s history.