New domestic airline to fly Yangon-Mandalay route

Published on Wednesday, 09 January 2013 16:23

Myanmar's first public airline, Golden Myanmar Airlines, will operate its maiden flight between Yangon and Mandalay next Thursday, aiming to offer lower fares to budget travellers.

The new airline will fly both domestic and international routes with two 180-seated A-320 Airbuses. The first aircraft has already arrived in Myanmar and the second one will arrive in February.

One-way fares for Yangon-Mandalay route will start from 27,000 kyats (US$32), which is cheaper than the average fares. Other airlines normally charge between 40,000 kyats (US$47) to 80,000 kyats (US$93) for the same route.

Established as a public company, the airline plans to start selling shares to the public after it begins its flights.

This will bring the number of domestic airlines to seven, including the 64-year-old state-owned domestic Myanmar Airways and five other private-run domestic airlines in Myanmar, namely Air Mandalay, Yangon Airways, Air Bagan, Asian Wings and Air Kanbawza.

*US$1=857 kyats