MYANMAR’s domestic carriers, Air Bagan and Asian Wings, have inked a codeshare agreement for 13 selected destinations in the country.
Starting October 15, passengers who buy tickets on Air Bagan or Asian Wings will be able to take services from either carrier to Tachileik, Kengtung, Lashio, Myitkyina, Putao, Kalay, Monywa, Homalin, Kyaukpyu, Sittwe, Pathein, Thandwe and Bhamo.
Officers from both Air Bagan and Asian Wings concurred that the codeshare deal was aimed at giving them an edge over the competition in an increasingly tight domestic carriers market.
“As the number of domestic airlines is increasing this year, we are always aiming to give better service to customers than the other domestic airlines,” officers said.
U Tay Za from Htoo Trading established Air Bagan in November 2004.
Asian Wings’ backers remain – officially, at least – a mystery. The carrier was launched on January 27 this year and is headquartered in a Bahan township office formerly occupied by Myanmar Treasure Resorts.
Myanmar has three other private domestic airlines – Air Mandalay, Yangon Airways and Air KBZ – as well as state-run Myanma Airways.
Industry sources say foreign travellers comprise about 30-40 per cent of ticket sales on domestic carriers.
