By Kyaw Htike Soe
MORE Chinese airlines are eyeing Myanmar as a lot of foreign companies flock to the Asia’s last frontier market. Myanmar offered visa free entry to Chinese visitors and tourists from some countries in an attempt to boost its tourism industry. Arrival of Chinese tourists to Myanmar is up by more than 30 per cent than previous year thanks to Myanmar’s visa-on-arrival allowance to visitors from six more countries commencing on 1 October last year.
The China Eastern Airlines launched the direct flight between Yangon and Shanghai, the largest commercial city in China starting on 19 June this year.The airline uses Airbus 320 airplanes for the new air route between Shanghai and Yangon.
The airline operates three flights per week and flight time between Yangon and Shanghai takes about five hours.The airline is expected to transport 360,000 passengers between China and Myanmar this year. Shenzhen-based Dong Hai Airlines also launched Shenzhen-Nay Pyi Taw flight since 14 July this year. Dong Hai Airlines flies direct flights between Nay Pyi Taw, the administrative capital of Myanmar and Shenzhen, a major city in Guangdong Province in Southern China by using a B738 aircraft with total 170 (8J 162Y) seat capacity for the new service.The airline offers twice weekly flights between Shenzhen and Nay Pyi Taw.
Dong Hai Airlines became the 3rd international airline connecting to Myanmar’s capital, Nay Pyi Taw with international destinations. Six Chinese airlines extended flight operations to eleven destinations in Myanmar in 2018 as the number of tourists from China to Myanmar rose by 38.38 per cent when compared to 2017. Some Chinese airlines such as Hainan Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Xiamen Airlines and Spring Airlines launched direct flights between major cities in China and Yangon during the period from January to July this year.10 Chinese airlines are currently flying direct flights to Yangon International Airport in Myanmar from major cities in China such as Kunming, Beijing, Hohhot, Nanning, Shanghai, Wuhan, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi’an, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Chongqing and Xiamen.Some Chinese airlines are seeking approval from the Department of Civil Aviation of Myanmar to operate new routes between the Yangon International Airport and some cities in China.
Tourist arrivals to Myanmar from China is likely to rise in the future, said an official from the DCA.“There is a significant increase of Chinese visitors to Myanmar by Chinese airlines and it is a good symbol for the country. But arrival of Europeans to Myanmar declined slightly when compared to last year,” he added. The number of Chinese airlines operating in Myanmar has increased to 16 in total. Domestic airlines also expanded flight operations to China. Myanmar Airways International (MAI), one of the privately-owned domestic airlines also operated the direct flight from Yangon and Mandalay to Hangzhou in July this year, expanding its flight network to China. Previously, MAI has launched a direct flight to Guangzhou of China. The MAI operates direct flights between Yangon and Hangzhou with the use of A319 aircraft every Friday.
Due to the sharp inflow of Chinese visitors to Myanmar this year, Chinese airlines have been increasing the number of direct flights to the Golden Land, said U Ye HtutAung, Deputy Director-General of the DCA.The Myanmar National Airlines, a state-owned airline and the flag carrier of Myanmar made maiden flight to Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province of Chinafrom Yangon starting on 28 December last year.
Presently, Myanmar authorities are exerting efforts to further expand travel routes and promote the tourism industry by attracting global airlines to the country.viously, MAI has launched a direct flight to Guangzhou of China. The MAI operates direct flights between Yangon and Hangzhou with the use of A319 aircraft every Friday.
Due to the sharp inflow of Chinese visitors to Myanmar this year, Chinese airlines have been increasing the number of direct flights to the Golden Land, said U Ye Htut Aung, Deputy Director-General of the DCA. The Myanmar National Airlines, a state-owned airline and the flag carrier of Myanmar made maiden flight to Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province of Chinafrom Yangon starting on 28 December last year.
Presently, Myanmar authorities are exerting efforts to further expand travel routes and promote the tourism industry by attracting global airlines to the country.
