The State-owned Myanmar National Airlines (MNA) transported over 1.7 million air passengers in 2018.
MNA operate 28 domestic schedules and six international schedules such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hong Kong, Chengdu and Gaya.
"The airline transported 1,041,981 passengers in 2016, 1,459,882 in 2017 and 1,709,715 in 2018," said Union Minister for Transport and Communications Thant Zin Maung.
MNA was transformed into a corporation in 2013-2014 fiscal year by increasing investment with the aim of penetrating the global market and upgrading itself.
Currently, the airline operates domestic flights to 28 towns in Myanmar and international flights to six cities.
For heavy maintenance of airplanes, MNA started to implement an ATR aircraft repair plant project. ART Company rendered assistance in building the EASA-recognized plant as MNA bought six ATR 72-600 planes. The project started in early 2015 and the recognition certification was received in October.
In Singapore, heavy maintenance of a 2017-model ATR airplane including 8-year check will cost over US$700,000 and that of a 2010-model over US$400,000. In Malaysia, maintenance of ART airplane with 2012 model will cost over US$500,000. But the cost will be just over US$100,000 in Myanmar.
Two planes of ATR 72-600 series MNA had ordered arrived in Myanmar in September and October 6 respectively this year. Now, the airline has 10 planes of ATR 72-600 series and one plane of ATR 72-500 series totalling 11.
