Myanmar National Airlines (UB, Yangon) and Mann Yadanarpon Airlines (7Y, Yangon) have entered into a partnership which will see the carriers cooperate on domestic services in Myanmar under the new brand Myanmar Sky Alliances, the Myanmar Times has reported.

The new partnership is set to enter into force on May 10. The combined network under the Myanmar Sky Alliances brand will include 13 destinations. Each of the airlines will provide two ATR72-600s for the operation. For Mann Yadanarpon Airlines, this would mean assigning the carrier's entire fleet to Myanmar Sky Alliances.

For its part, MNA will still have four ATR 72-600s, one each of ATR 72-200 and ATR 72-500, four B737-800s, and two E190s for its operations.

The main bases for the cooperation will most likely be Yangon, Mandalay International, Heho, and Nay Pyi Taw.

The cooperation can be seen as a sign of the impending consolidation of the Myanmarese market. Following the opening up of the country's economy a few years ago, there are currently eight active scheduled airlines in the country, many of them operating a small fleet of aircraft on domestic routes. It is recalled that AirAsia Group has recently said it is interested in entering Myanmar through a joint-venture with an existing carrier. Mark Turner, Chief Commercial Officer of FMI Air (Yangon), has also told ch-aviation that the market needs consolidation.