Flydubai launches daily direct flights between Dubai and Yangon;Includes Southeast Asia in its Routes Network

15 December


YANGON Aerodrome Company Lim-ited  (“YACL”),  operator  of  Yangon  International  Airport  (“YIA”),  today  welcomes  the  first  inaugural  flight  of flydubai, a government- owned budget airline, direct from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This marks  flydubai’s  first  scheduled  daily  flight  in  Southeast Asia.


Flydubai  will  take  over  the  Dubai-Yangon  direct  flights  from  Emirates  and  will  increase  its flight frequency to daily from four flights per week  between  the  two  cities.  The  two  airlines  will  now  codeshare  the  Dubai-Yangon-Dubai  route from today.


The budget airline will utilise next-generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft for the flights, which can carry up to 174 passengers. The flights will take approximately 5 hours and 35 minutes. Yangon  International  Airport  “YIA”  received  4,665  passengers  from  Middle  East  Nationality  and  the  arrival  grew  by  8%  compared  to  the  same  January – October period last year according to the source from Ministry of Hotels & Tourism.
“Inauguration Ceremony”


A senior delegation led by Mr Sudhir Sreedha-ran, flydubai’s Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations (UAE, GCC, Subcontinent and Africa) was onboard the inaugural flight. His Excellency U Phyo Min Thein, Chief Minister of Yangon Re-gion, His Excellency Daw Nilar Kyaw, Minister of Electricity, Industry, Roads and Transport, U Htun Myint Naing, Chairman of Asia World Group of Companies, Mr Jose Angeja, Chief Operating Officer of YACL and officials from Department of Civil Aviation greeted and welcomed the del-egation upon their arrival at YIA.


An event to celebrate the occasion of flydu-bai’s inaugural flight was held at YIA’s Terminal 1.  The  opening  address  was  officiated  by  His Excellency U Phyo Min Thein, Chief Minister of Yangon Region.


Following the opening address, Mr Sudhir Sreedharan, CCO of flydubai and Mr Jose Angeja, COO of  YACL delivered the welcoming remarks. Officials from flydubai and YACL, media friends and honorable guests were also present.


His Excellency U Phyo Min Thein said “Yangon International Airport plays an essential role in the tourism development of Myanmar. The airport is a gateway to international travel. We want to extend a warm welcome to flydubai’s inaugural flight today and give thanks to developing our tourism sector, and secondly, recog-nizing Dubai as an international transit hub.”


Mr  Jose  Angeja,  Chief  Operating  Officer  of  Yangon  Aerodrome  Company  Limited;  Operator  of  Yangon  International  Airport  said:  “We  are  delighted  to  receive a new international airliner, which will not only maintain a direct flight to Middle East - Dubai, as the main feeder of the European and American markets to Yangon, but also for adding a new route to Krabi (Thailand), increasing YIA’s connections portfolio, which will definitely increase the number of passengers and visitors to Myanmar, as well as promote tourism in this particular case, amongst the three regions.”
Myanmar  is  becoming  a  popular  tourist  destination,  due  to  its  pristine  and  untouched  beaches,  natural  topography,  deep  culture  and  astounding  Buddhist  temples and monasteries.” He added.—GNLM