With most of the dozens of bridges and tunnels needed to traverse the mountains of northern Laos already built, Chinese state media reported in June that the US$6 billion China-Laos railway, which terminates in Vientiane, is 90% done, with service slated to begin in 2022.

Logistics companies are working to how drones can support medical professionals and first responders against the coronavirus. In May, UPS launched a drone service to deliver prescription medicines from CVS Health pharmacies to the largest US retirement community, home to more than 135,000 residents in Florida.

Absent common use refrigeration and other factors required for that business, non-hub competitors may have to embargo pharmaceutical shipments on certain routes – pushing all that business to the hub carrier.