MAI adds online bookings

Myanmar Airways International is set to increase capacity between Bangkok and Yangon with one extra morning flight on Friday and introduce an online booking site.

Currently, MAI  operates nine flights a week; one daily flight in the evening and two morning flights on Thursday and Sunday. From 28 March, until the end of the summer schedule, 30 October, it will add a morning flight on Friday.

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PG ups Yangon frequency

Bangkok Airways will increase flights to Yangon from five times a week to a daily service starting 25 October.

The departure time for the outbound flight from Bangkok will remain unchanged at 1230, but the return flight will depart at 1440 instead of 1410. The service uses a 162-seat A320.

In addition, Air Mandalay hopes to resume its Chiang Mai-Yangon route that was suspended, last September, possibly in time for the high season.

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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.

Easier to apply Myanmar visa

In and outs of applying for a visa to Myanmar appear to be easier.

Applying for a Myanmar visa is now easier after the embassy streamlined rules on documents required and extended its working hours.

The embassy claims it now requires fewer documents and has extended opening hours with both morning and afternoon sessions. Read more

Thai and Myanmar agree on Buddhist circuit

Team surveys the sites and meets in Yangon to agree on a plan.

Thai and Myanmar tourism authorities have agreed to co-operate and fine tune a new Buddhism tour circuit featuring sites in both countries.

Government and private sector representatives from Thailand and Myanmar agreed to improve tourism by linking attractions in northern Thailand with Myanmar, through a Buddhism circuit that will ultimately link with sites in India. Read more