QATAR Airways resumed flights to Myanmar yesterday with the launch of scheduled services to Yangon, after a four-year absence from the country (TTG Asia e-Daily, May 11).
Speaking at a press conference in Yangon yesterday, Qatar Airways CEO, Akbar Al Baker, said the airline looked forward to a prosperous Myanmar operation having last served the destination in 2008.
“When Qatar Airways decided to resume flights to Myanmar, we wanted to enter with daily services from day one. From October 28, I am delighted to announce that the Doha-Yangon route will be served daily, a great boost indeed for the local economy, for the local tourism industry, and for the people of Myanmar looking to travel with more choice to destinations overseas.
“Myanmar’s domestic and international markets have both shown rapid growth since 2008 with international passenger numbers nearly doubling through the main gateway Yangon over the last four years.”
Qatar Airways senior vice president, East Asia and South West Pacific, Robert Yang, said Yangon had become the airline’s 10th gateway in ASEAN after Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Bali, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Hanoi, Singapore, Manila and Phuket.
“Given the huge potential size of the Myanmar market, the recent growth represents just the tip of the iceberg. Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore have until now been the main gateways for long haul traffic into and out of Myanmar,” he said.
“As Myanmar opens up more, a large influx of business and leisure long haul traffic is expected from Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Americas. Through our strategically located hub in Doha, we will provide easy access to Yangon and look forward to making this route a huge success.”
The Doha-Yangon route will be serviced by an Airbus A319-100LR, which can accommodate eight passengers in Business Class and offers 102 economy seats. The flight will run on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, with return flights from Yangon on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.
The additional flights on the Doha-Yangon route will provide passengers with more travel options and a choice of connecting to over 90 destinations served by Qatar Airways across Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Americas.
