Myanmar Airways International - A Brief History
More Recent Development 2001-2003
2001 Highlights
2002 Highlights
2003 Highlights
2004 Highlights
2005 Highlights

Source: Myanmar Airways International

Myanmar Airways International - A Brief History

Myanmar's original and only national airline was called Union of Burma Airways and began operations in the 1950s when the country was still known as Burma. In the early 1970s it was renamed Burma Airways Corporation and continued services under this name until 1988, when Burma was officially renamed Myanmar and the airline was renamed Myanma Airways.

Myanmar Airways International (MAI) took off in August 1993, created by a joint venture between Myanma Airways and Singapore interests with the support of Royal Brunei Airlines.

With a new Singapore management team (many ex-Singapore Airlines staff), new Boeing aircraft with all expatriate cockpit crew, better-trained flight attendants and new UK Civil Aviation Authority operating standards, this was the beginning of a successful new era for our national airline. Meanwhile, Myanma Airways continued operations as a purely domestic carrier for the local population.

MAI became the international airline of Myanmar with regular flights between Yangon (the capital of Myanmar) Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kunming, Dacca and Jakarta. MAI continued to develop regionally.

In October 1988 the original joint venture was terminated and MAI became a wholly owned by Myanma Airways. MAI's potential continued to attract investors and in January 2001, a new joint venture was formed in which Region Air Myanmar (HK) Ltd., took a strategic 49% stake and a local businessman through his company Zan Co. took a 11% share and Myanma Airways retained 40%.

Our aircraft are currently operated by an internationally experienced team of skilled aviation personnel.

More Recent Developments (2001-2004)

2001 - Highlights

A new corporate identity and aircraft livery was rolled out to reflect our new modern and professional company culture.

By moving our head office to new premises in Sakura Tower, we increase administrative efficiency and provided an improved working environment for our employees.

We completed our first major cabin crew upgrade program. [back to top]

2002 - Highlights

We obtained our own new IATA airline designator codes (8M/599) and joined both the IATA Multilateral Interline Traffic Agreement (MITA) and IATA Clearing House (ICH). As a result we are able to operate more efficiently and professionally with enhanced international credibility.

122 of our employees were sent on both local training courses and overseas training courses at Malaysian Airlines and Royal Brunei Airlines training centers. [back to top]

2003 - Highlights

We launched our first joint service code share agreement with Thai Airways International on the Bangkok-Yangon-Bangkok route.

We added two new aircraft to our fleet: a Boeing 737-800 and a MD-82.

We increased flight frequency to Bangkok from 9 to 10 flights per week and to Singapore from 3 to 5 times per week.

We re-launched our Hong Kong route offering 2 flights per week.

A further 61 employees were sent on local and overseas professional training courses. [back to top]

2004 - Highlights

We Increased frequencies to Bangkok from 10 to 13 flights per week.

We commenced 3 flights per week to New Delhi, India--newest destination.

We resumed our seasonal twice-weekly service to Hong Kong.

We increased flight frequency to Kuala Lumpur from 2 to 3 flights per week.

We have new uniforms for all our ground staff and recruit a further 16 new cabin crew trainees. [back to top]

2005 - Highlights