MYANMAR’S airline industry is set to further heat up with Air KBZ beginning operations on a daily Yangon-Nyaung Oo-Mandalay-Heho-Yangon flight and a daily Yangon-Myeik-Yangon flight on April 1.
The airline was scheduled to launch late last year, but was unable to secure aircraft. Air KBZ will initially use one 64-seat ATR 72-500 aircraft and will increase to four later in the year.
Air KBZ CEO, Oakkar Tun, said the airline has received permission from the Department of Civil Aviation to operate both domestic and international flights, but would only start with domestic flights.
It plans to fly to other domestic destinations such as Tachileik, Kengtung, Myitkyina, Sittwe, Thandwe, Pathein, Lashio, Putao, Kawthoung, Dawei, Mawlamyine and Kalay from May.
Managing director Moe San Aung conceded that April was “not the right time to launch the airline”, but explained that the decision was made to get ready for the upcoming tourist season.
Air KBZ is owned by Myanmar’s Kanbawza Group of Companies, which holds an 80 per cent stake in Myanmar Airways International (MAI). A bilateral agreement with MAI for its domestic ticket booking system is on the cards.
Air KBZ will join Air Mandalay, Air Bagan, Myanma Airways and Asian Wings in local skies, the latter being the newest addition (TTG Asia e-Daily, January 31).
