Myanmar Airways expanding service to Japan, South Korea
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Myanmar Airways International (MAI) will begin regular flights to Japan and South Korea in October, the carrier said.
Aye Maya Thar, MAI’s marketing and public relations manager, said it had been selling tickets for flights from Yangon to South Korea since last year through a code-sharing agreement with Korean Air and Korean carrier Asiana Airlines.
She said it had also commenced charter flights to South Korea and Japan in February.
MAI also signed an agreement with the United Arab Emirates on March 10 to become the first airline from Myanmar to fly to the UAE.
The flights will start next year but the exact date has yet to be announced.
MAI has a fleet of seven 180-seat A320 Airbus and two 120-seat A319 Airbus jets.
Its destinations from Yangon are Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Guangzhou, Siem Reap, and Phnom Penh.
Signs JV with Japan’s HAMA
MAI announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Japan-based HAMA Inc to set up a joint venture to expand flights between the two countries.
Budget-carrier Golden Myanmar Airlines says it is expanding its charter-flight business following the purchase of a new short-haul craft from ATR, the French-Italian manufacturer.
Golden Myanmar expands fleet
Golden Myanmar said it had ordered an ATR 72-600 craft for charter flights.
An executive at the carrier put the cost of these flights at about US$3,000 per hour.
The carrier now flies between 12 cities in Myanmar and has two international routes – Yangon-Bangkok and Yangon-Singapore – with two Airbus A320-200 jets. The ATR 72-600 craft will be used to expand the number of flights on its domestic routes, as well charter services.
Most of its domestic flights operate from Mandalay, though it also has flights connecting the capital and Mandalay with Yangon.
From Mandalay, it flies to the capital, Thandawe, Lashio, Tacheleik, Myikyina and six other cities.
In July 2012 Golden Myanmar became the first public aviation company to register in Myanmar.
Cooperative Bank chairman Khin Maung Aye is its CEO. Khin Maung Aye is also a member of President Thein Sein’s National Economic and Social Advisory Council.
