MYANMAR Airways International (MAI) launched a twice-weekly Yangon-Siem Reap direct service on February 23, the same day a new visa-on-arrival facility available to its passengers flying into Yangon from the Angkor town came into effect (TTG Asia e-Daily, February 15).
The carrier operates on the route using a 160-seat Airbus A320 aircraft.
Phyoe Wai Yar Zar, vice chairman of Myanmar Marketing Committee and managing director of All Asia Exclusive Travel, said the limited reintroduction of the VOA was “very encouraging”.
“This positive policy will push sales (of travel packages) between the two countries and has opened another gateway into Myanmar,” he said.
Aside from the Yangon-Siem Reap route, MAI is also beefing up its other services. The airline begins a twice-weekly service between Yangon and Guangzhou today using an A320 and is awaiting the delivery of one new aircraft this month. In addition, it is planning to launch a new Yangon-Singapore-Jakarta and Yangon-New Delhi services, according to its assistant marketing manager Aye Mra Tha.
“In the long term, we are planning direct flights from Yangon to Tokyo, Seoul, Dubai, Doha and Bali,” Aye said.
MAI currently operates flights to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Gaya in India and Siem Reap, with a fleet consisting of three A320s and one A321.
