Tuesday 1 July 2014

More airlines crowd Myanmar skies

YANGON, 23 June 2014: Myanmar’s Department of Civil Aviation says two new domestic airlines, Apex and FMI, are expecting to gain the green light soon to begin flying both domestic and regional scheduled routes.

The department general director, Win Swe Tun, told the Irrawaddy news service that both Apex and FMI are waiting approval from Myanmar Investment Commission to start operating scheduled flights.

All documents are in the last stage of approval.

According to the Irrawaddy report, the two prospective carriers, both owned by Burmese business tycoons, will be based in Nay Pyi Taw.

Apex is owned by Khin Soe, a businessman with interests in Burma’s fishing, hotel, and petroleum industries.

The airline plans to fly from the political capital to Myeik, Mandalay, Heho, Yangon, Dawei, Nyaung U and Kawthaung. In addition, it plans to establish routes to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.

A subsidiary of the First Myanmar Investment (FMI) Company has been offering charter flights, as well as a scheduled daily services between Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw and is looking to add more scheduled flight services other destinations.

FMI Air Charter Ltd currently offers charter flights with two planes — an ATR-42 and Beech 1900-D — rented from state-run Myanma Airways.

FMI was established in the early 1990s as part of SPA Myanmar, a conglomerate of more than 40 businesses owned by the Burmese business tycoon Serge Pun.

In February, Mann Yadanarpon Airlines became the latest airline to enter Myanmar’s increasingly crowded domestic airline industry.

The airline currently offers commercial flights to Yangon, Mandalay, Nyaung U, Heho, Kengtung, Tachiliek and Myitkyina.

The Mandalay-based carrier became Myanmar’s eighth domestic airline.

The other seven domestic airlines are: Air Bagan; Air KBZ; Asian Wings Airways; Air Mandalay; Myanma Airways; Yangon Airways; and Golden Myanmar Airlines.

Myanmar Airways International serves as the country’s international flag carrier and 24 other international airlines are currently flying to the country.

source: TTR Weekly

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