Bagan-NyaungU airport cannot be upgraded as it is located closely to world heritage listed Bagan and the airport and aviation authorities are needed to draw plans to upgrade Pakokku airport, said Thant Sin Maung, Union Minister for Transportation and Communications.
The minister said Bagan-NyaungU airport is closely located with Bagan archaeological zone and the upgrading process will not be carried out in long term plan. Pakokku airport has enough land space to upgrade and they need to draw plans to upgrade the airport in the future.
Bagan is recognized by the UNESCO as one of the world heritage sites. The area is popular among the international before it was being listed in the world heritage list. Now more foreign travellers would be visited Bagan and international airlines have taken an interest to run direct flights to Bagan.
Department for Civil Aviation (DCA) replied to Bangkok Airways that they are not allowed the direct flight between Bangkok and Bagan at the present as Bagan-NyaungU airport is not an international airport.
“Nyaung-U airport is a domestic airport and we cannot allow them to run direct flight between Bangkok and Bagan at the present,” said Ye Htut Aung, Deputy Director General from the DCA.
