Myanmar Airways International (MAI), the country’s flag carrier, and Japan-based HAMA Inc Co Ltd have inked a deal to extend daily schedule flights between Japan and Myanmar, MAI said.
According to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) agreement signed between MAI and HAMA, MAI has set up a joint venture company with HAMA INC Co Ltd as Myanmar Airways International Japan Co Ltd in Japan, MAI said in a statement.
“The agreement aims to increase regular scheduled flights between Myanmar and Japan besides the charter flights,” MAI said.
“MAI airline is planning to facilitate Japanese passengers to go from Yangon to Siem Reap and Phnom Penh in Cambodia if they would like to visit those destinations after visiting Myanmar,” it added.
MAI is currently the only Myanmar airline which offers direct flights to those Cambodian cities.
Currently, MAI covers various international routes such as Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Guangzhou, Gaya, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap with daily schedule flights as well as code-sharing deals with Asiana Airlines (OZ), Korean Air (KE) and Malaysia Airlines (MH).
MAI started to fly to Japan’s Ibaraki airport earlier this month following a deal between Ibaraki prefecture’s governor and MAI. MAI started flying from Yangon International Airport and Mandalay International Airport to Fukuoka, Okinawa, Kagoshima, Nagasaki and Kumamoto airports in Japan in 2013.
Established in 1993, MAI flies 180-passenger Airbus A320 and 120-passenger Airbus A319 to its international destinations.
A total of 24 international airlines operate in Myanmar and seven domestically.