Myanmar's Air Mandalay to resume flight operations ch-aviation PRO exclusive

Asian Wings Airways (YJ, Yangon) suspended all operations on January 1, 2019, ch-aviation schedule analysis has revealed. CAPA has reported that the carrier still retains its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC).

The airline suspended its last route from Yangon to Kyaukpyu on January 1, 2019. A day earlier, it terminated services to Bagan/Nyaung-u via Heho.

Prior to the suspension of the flights, Asian Wings Airways had operated two 20-year-old ATR72-500s, XY-AIS (msn 626) and XY-AIU (msn 557). The airline owns both aircraft.

Asian Wings Airways joined the growing list of Myanmarese carriers forced to suspend operations in the recent months, which already includes Air Mandalay (6T, Yangon), APEX Airlines (SO, Yangon), Air Bagan (W9, Yangon), and FMI Air (ND, Yangon).

Myanmar National Airlines (UB, Yangon) will seek foreign investors to finance the upgrade of the carrier's international fleet and it has also approached the Myanma Port Authority in this regard, Director U Myint Aung has told The Myanmar Times.

The Myanmarese flag carrier has been unprofitable since its corporatisation in 2013 but hopes to post its first profit in 2019. In order to achieve that, the carrier needs to boost its load factors on international flights, which currently hover at 40-50%. The upgrade of the fleet may contribute towards that goal, U Myint Aung hopes.

The carrier is expecting to take a total of six B737-8s between 2019 and 2021, although it is unclear whether the upgrade would be limited to these aircraft or if MNA is looking at more jets.

According to the ch-aviation fleets module, MNA's narrowbody fleet currently consists of four B737-800s. The carrier also operates two E190LRs, six ATR 72-600s, one ATR72-200, one ATR72-500 and four Cessna (single turboprop) 208 Caravans.

MNA is also trying to...