Easing of Covid-19 restrictions and domestic air travel
The domestic airlines in Myanmar were allowed to resume their regular flights on December 16, 2021 after they had been suspended due to the Covid-19 global pandemic.
As such, the Ministry of Health and Sports issued SOPs (standard operation procedures) in relation to air travel.
Five domestic airlines namely state-owned Myanmar National Airlines, Air KBZ, Air Thanlwin, Mann Yadanarpon, and Golden Myanmar resumed some domestic flights on December 16 that year.
On December 1, Yangon Aerodrome Company Limited (YACL), a contractor of Yangon International Airport services and management, announced its readiness to provide services for regular domestic flights by taking preventive measures for public health in accord with the Airport Public Health Contingency Plan (APHCP) adopted by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
“At Terminal 3 of Yangon Airport, we are providing services for regular domestic flights in line with the ministry’s SOPs and the ICAO’s APHCP,” said a YACL official.
Resumption of international flights after two years
All international flights at Yangon Airport were suspended on March 29, 2020.
Meanwhile, only relief and cargo flights were conducted on a regular basis at the airport in accordance with the public health norms and standards.
Resumption of international flights at the very start of Myanmar New Year
With significantly decreasing Covid-19 cases and positivity rates since earlier 2022, Myanmar set a temporary restriction period for international flights until April 16, 2022 and resumed all regular international flights in accord with the prescribed rules and disciplines as of April 17 for the development of the country’s global tourism industry and the convenience of foreign travellers and Myanmar returnees.
After two years of suspension, Yangon International Airport resumed all international passenger flights at Terminal 1 on April 17 this year, according to a press release issued by the airport. On that day, the airport accepted Singapore Airlines – SQ 761, the first international plane to arrive.
Resumption of international flights by some domestic airlines
After Yangon Airport re-allowed commercial flights to land, the state-owned Myanmar National Airlines (MNA) started Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur flight schedules, and Myanmar Airways International (MAI) Bangkok, Singapore, Guangzhou, Kolkata and Delhi flight schedules in April.
It was the first commercial flight of MNA’s UB 1002 plane to arrive back at Yangon Airport from Singapore on April 17, the first day of Myanmar New Year. Now, MNA is operating regular international flights.
Since December 9, MNA has conducted its Yangon- Chiang Mai flights two times a week and planned three times a week as of December 21.
MNA has announced it will start flying from Yangon to Chiang Mai every Friday and Sunday during the December Tourist Season.
The airline is also offering special discounts for the New Year period on its Yangon-Bangkok flights, with one-way trips costing US$40 (1,390 baht) and round trips costing US$74.
“The flight to Bangkok, which is popular among Myanmar nationals, is being offered at a special price as a New Year’s Eve present,” an airline official said.
Moreover, MNA started flying the first Yangon-Gaya-Yangon flight this year on November 4, 2022. Depending on the availability of passengers, it will fly the Yangon-Gaya-Yangon route every week.
As there have been Commercial Flights at the Yangon International Airport, the airlines such as NOK Air, Thai Smile, Air Asia, Malaysia Airline, Singapore Airline and Korean Airline began their flights.
Air Asia (Behad) which is one of the International Airlines operated its flights in Myanmar starting from June 3rd.
The Air Asia (Behad) has announced it will start flying from Yangon to Kuala Lumpur every Monday and Friday per week. Moreover, the International Airlines including Korean Airline are now planning to launch their flights in Myanmar.
“Ghost Yangon Airport”
Although the international airlines already had planned to operate their flights in Myanmar, there have been few passengers at the Yangon International Airport, which is a main entry of Myanmar. So, it is still a ghost airport.
“There are a lot of passengers who departed from home to abroad. In the past, the Yangon International Airport was very crowded. Now, it is a ghost airport. At Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand which is our neighbouring country, there are so many international travellers who had to queue for their flights. We had seen Chaing Mai Airport which was very crowded. We want to see the Yangon International Airport which will be crowded with the passengers from Home and Abroad,” said Myanmar citizen who made a tour to Bangkok in Thailand.
Although most of airport staffs resigned from their jobs, the Yangon International Airport keeps only essential employees who have to carry out airport activities.
In the past, there were many duty free shops and restaurants at the Yangon International Airport which was always crowded with local and international passengers. Now, it is waiting for international visitors with a dejected appearance.
