Airlines rely on local customers
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Domestic airlines mainly depend on local travellers as tourist arrivals decline during the rainy season, sources say.
Myanmar has 10 domestic airlines including Air Bagan, Air KBZ, Air Mandalay, Yangon Airways and Golden Myanmar Airlines. Most cater services to serve tourism, flying round the main tourist destinations like Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan.
The monsoon season will continue until September.
With the declining number of tourists, Asian Wings started linking Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw this month.
“We are mainly flying for Myanmar travellers in the low season. We introduced the Nay Pyi Taw flights because government officials fly between Yangon and the capital very often,” said Lwin Moe, executive director of Asian Wings.
The capital city is home to government offices. With an international airport, it hosts conferences but rarely attracts leisure visitors.
Asian Wings has three ATR72-500 aircraft for domestic flights and is planning to start operating to Ngapali Beach, Thandwe, later in the year.
More domestic flight routes are expected to open after the rainy season.
