Some new direct long-haul services are in the works but will only account for a small fraction of total capacity in and out of Myanmar. Qatar Airways has unveiled plans to open in Oct-2012 a thrice weekly service from Doha to Yangon. The service will initially be operated with A319s. Qatar Airways typically uses A319 equipment to test out new medium-haul markets and later upgrades to wide bodies if the market proves to have sufficient demand.
Qatar Airways appears to be hoping its decision to become the first airline from outside Asia in Myanmar will position the carrier to cash in as country’s tourism and business sectors grow. Qatar Airways will be able to provide the fastest connections from Myanmar to several destinations in the Middle East, Europe and the Americas.
Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) also disclosed last week that it intends to launch services to Yangon. ANA, which has not yet set a launch date or frequency for its planned service to Yangon, would offer the first direct link between Japan and Myanmar. ANA expects an influx of interest from Japanese tourists as Myanmar opens up. Both ANA and Qatar previously served Myanmar, with ANA pulling out 12 years ago and Qatar dropping its Yangon service just over four years ago.
German leisure carrier Condor is also planning to enter the Yangon market in Nov-2012 with one weekly Boeing 767-300ER flight from Frankfurt that will continue onto Phuket in Thailand. This service recognises the huge potential of Myanmar’s tourism industry as the country emerges as an up and coming tourist destination.
