The upgrading process of Yangon International Airport (YIA) is still underway even though the flow of passengers in 2018 was the lowest within a five-year time, said Tun Myint Naing, Chairman of Asia World Company.

“The inflow of passengers at the YIA saw an average increase about 8.6 per cent annually within a five-years time and we are still continuing the upgrading process of the YIA by cooperating with the government, public and our partners in tourism industry to find new markets for the future,” said the company chairman in an anniversary meeting of the company in 2019.

The arrival of passengers at the YIA reached a milestone of five million on November 15 in 2018. However, the arrival of passengers by November 15 was an increase of only 2.5 per cent compared with the whole of 2017, according to the announcement made by Yangon Aerodrome Company, which is supervising the services rendered by the YIA.

The YIA has the highest arrival of passengers among three international airports in Myanmar.

Although travelers from Asian countries saw increase in 2018, tourism industry is still negatively affected as travelers from Europe and North America countries declined due to criticisms made by foreign media on Myanmar, said CEO of the Yangon Aerodrome Company.

A total of six international airlines from China arranged 11 flight schedules to fly to Myanmar in 2018 and the number of the arrival of Chinese travelers is increased by 38.38 per cent in compared with last year arrival.

Chinese airlines fly 11 flights daily to the YIA.