MAI ready to buy aircraft

Myanmar Airways International will operate two new A320s, during this winter schedule. It also intends to increase frequency between Bangkok and Singapore to daily and introduce a Yangon-Gaya route for Buddhist pilgrims visiting northern India.

MAI will lease-purchase two Airbus A320s, with 160 seats. They will start services, 25 October, replacing A319 leased from Druk Air.

Assistant general manager, commercial, Ye Jhan, told TTR Weekly that the aircraft would have a single-class configuration.

“There is very little demand for business class. If we had one, we might be able to sell a couple of seats on each flight so a single class cabin is the way to go.”

In business for 16 years, the airline has always relied on simple lease agreements. This new agreement gives the airline an option to purchase written into the payment schedule.

Currently, it operates international routes to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore with codeshare partner, Jetstar. In its winter schedule, flights to Kuala Lumpur will remain the same with five services a week, while Bangkok will increase from five to daily. Singapore, too, will have daily flights, up from four a week.

Thai Airways International dominates market share on the Bangkok-Yangon route gaining around 60% of all bookings. The balance is shared between MAI, Bangkok Airways and Thai AirAsia.

MAI’s new Yangon-Gaya service is just twice weekly and only from October through to March, 2010. Gaya is an important heritage and religious site for Buddhists.