Myanmar’s Apex Airlines poised for takeoff in March

MYANMAR’S newest carrier Apex Airlines will begin operations in March, making it the 10thairline to add to the country’s small but rapidly growing aviation sector.

Based in Nay Pyi Taw, Apex Airlines will initially operate to domestic destinations such as Yangon, Sittwe, Dawei, Myeik and Kaw Thoung using a new ATR 72-600 aircraft.

“Our first ATR 72-600 aircraft will arrive in mid-February and we will start operations from end-March. We will receive a second aircraft between June and July, and the third aircraft will arrive between September to October,” Selva Kumar, COO of Apex Airlines, told TTG Asia e-Daily.

Explaining the decision to base the carrier in Nay Pyi Taw, Kumar elaborated: “Presently Yangon Airport is too crowded, so the ministry of transport suggested Nay Pyi Taw as a base. Nay Pyi Taw’s future airport will have good facilities and capable of accommodating many aircraft, and (the capital’s) many hotels and convention centers make it a good MICE destination.”

The airline has plans to expand to Myitkyina, Mandalay, Bagan, Thandwe, Heho, Kyaing Tong and Tachileik.

“We aim to fly international routes in 2016, not just to South-east Asia but also to South Asian destinations such as India and Bangladesh,” he added.

Myanmar currently has nine domestic airlines, namely Air Mandalay, Yangon Airways, Air KBZ, Mann Yadanarpon Airlines, Air Bagan, Asian Wings Airlines, FMI Air Charter, Golden Myanmar Airlines and Myanmar National Airways.

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