Lao Airlines provided flights from Vientiane via Pakse three times a week; however, it stopped them in October 2016 because of low passenger demand.

Attapeu Province has a small population (140,000) and does not receive much tourism, which have been cited as factors in the airport's closure.

[3] On 11 February 2012, officials of the Lao and Vietnamese governments attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the airport, which is located near the Lao–Vietnamese border.

Vietnam's Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group provided a loan of almost 300 billion kip (more than US$36.1 million) for the construction of the airport.

Although Attapeu Province has seen increased economic activity in the sectors of power production, mining, and timber, because of its proximity to Vietnam, however has few tourist attractions.