Myanmar's first low-cost airline begins domestic flights in January 2013

Edited by Gan Yung Chyan

               / KUCINTA SETIA

Contributed by PK Chai, Seremban
Distributed to www.just4airlines.com

YANGON - Myanmar's first low-cost airline Golden Myanmar Airlines has conducted its first scheduled flight on 17 January 2013 between Yangon and Mandalay following a recent test flight on the Yangon-Mandalay-Yangon route on 11 January 2013 to get its Air Operator Certificate (AOC), according to U Win Kyaw Moe, the airline’s Assistant General Manager.

Fares on the Yangon-Mandalay-Yangon route are available from as little as K27,000 one way although not all seats will be available at that price, which is less than one-third what existing operators charge. However, U Win Kyaw Moe said that the airline will manage its airfares to ensure prices remain low and will be more affordable or cheaper than the other domestic airlines of Myanmar.

Myanmar has five private domestic airlines, namely Air Mandalay, Air Bagan, Air Kanbawza (AIR KBZ), Asian Wings Airways and Yangon Airways,. They charge passengers essentially the same price. On the Yangon-Mandalay route, fares are about K80,000 for locals and US$130 for foreigners.

Golden Myanmar Airlines flies the Yangon-Mandalay route nine times a week using an Airbus A320 with 180 economy-class seats. A rented Boeing aircraft will arrive by the end of February according to U Win Kyaw Moe.

Golden Myanmar Airlines also plans to begin flights from Yangon to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Thailand from March 2013, according to the airline's Chairman U Khin Maung Aye.

“The situation has changed – tourist arrivals are increasing sharply this year – so we are interested in starting this business,”  U Khin Maung Aye said. “We won’t take much profit and primarily want to offer the public flights at a cheap price.”

Golden Myanmar Airlines, a public company established in August 2012, will also begin selling shares to the public on 14 January 2013 at K10,000 each, according to U Khin Maung Aye.

U Khin Maung Aye, the CB Bank chairman and founder of Kaytumadi Co, Ltd and Kaung Myanmar Aung Group of Companies is one of 15 major investors, along with U Thein Tun of Myanmar Golden Star in this joint-venture airline company.

“Not only do we want everyone to fly cheaply but we also want everybody to have the chance to be involved in this business,” U Khin Maung Aye said.

To keep prices low, passengers will be charged for some services that are free on most airlines, such as food. The most expensive meal on Golden Myanmar Airlines will be K3400, the airline says. Passengers will also be charged for baggage over the 10-kilogram limit.