Myanma Airways (Yangon) will return to the international scene early next year as part of the carrier's recent USD500million transformation into Myanmar National Airlines (UB, Yangon).

Speaking to the Myanmar Times in Yangon last week, managing director Captain U Than Tun said that although the airline would remain government-backed, a recently launched corporatisation process will see it develop a strong degree of independence from the country's Ministry of Transportation thereby allowing it to make more commercially-oriented decisions.

“We will be able to provide strong leadership of the airline, look at it from a commercial perspective and to make our own decisions about company strategy and direction,” he said.

Myanmar's parliament recently enacted Myanmar Aviation Bill legislation paving the way for the carrier's move to quasi-autonomy. The bill will also leave the door open to future possible investment.

The state-backed carrier operates both domestic and regional flights using ATR42s and 72s as well as E190s, a Fokker 28-4000, and an MA-60. In addition to six more ATR72-600s due to be acquired next year, Myanmar National Airways is also expecting the first of six Boeing B737-800s and four Boeing 737 MAX 8s on lease from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) to arrive from July onwards.