There are now a number of domestic airlines operating in Myanmar. Although few in number and only fly to a handful of popular tourist destinations in Myanmar, they serve as a very convenient way of travel for tourists coming to Myanmar. Because of the inconveniences associated with land travel in Myanmar, air travel is the most comfortable and convenient mode of travel. For those foreign visitors coming to Myanmar, here are a few facts about domestic air travel in Myanmar.
Air tickets in Myanmar are quite expensive. One way ticket from Yangon to Bagan is around US$ 170 per person (although on the airlines’ website, they mention about internet booking at around half this price). This is quite expensive compared to domestic airfare in Thailand. Flights are only available to major tourist destinations (Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan, Heho / Inle, and a few others) , as only a handful of people use air travel in Myanmar due to high ticket price. Also you cannot book the ticket in real time. If you want to book online, you will have to submit your booking request in advance to the airline using the booking request form provided. The airline will check the availability of the ticket and will contact you back at your email, and inform you of the method of payment. This is not very convenient in some instances. Moreover, airline time tables can be changed a few days prior to the booking date, thus it is not advisable for the visitors to book the ticket many days in advance. Actually, the time table is confirmed only a week in advance. Flights are occasionally canceled, and due to current low number of flights, alternative flights are not easily available.
The most convenient way to plan your air travel is to book with a travel agent. There are a number of travel agents with offices in Bangkok, Malaysia and Singapore, so you can contact one of these agents and plan your trip. Usually, these agents might be able to provide air tickets at cheaper price than the airlines’ official price.
Some people might wonder if it is possible to buy a ticket at the airport on the day of travel. Although it is possible to buy an air ticket at the airport on the day of travel, it depends on the availability of the ticket. Furthermore, unsold tickets are sold only one to two hours ahead of departure time, and there is no guarantee that you will get a seat. Therefore, the best way is to buy at one of the ticketing agents before you travel to Myanmar, or buy when you arrive to Yangon.
Here are some of the travel agents with good reputation.
No.27, (Ground Floor), 38th Street, Kyauktada Township, Yangon, Myanmar.
Phone: (95 1) 380 888 (Auto Lines)
Fax: (95 1) 254 599, 256 697
Email: domestic@sunfartravels.com
BANGKOK OFFICE
48/5, Pan Road, Silom, Bangkok, 10500, Thailand.
Tel : (662) 2665155-9, 2668833-9, 2668855-9
Fax : (662) 2383179
COLUMBUS TRAVELS & TOURS LTD., (Yangon)
586 Strand Road (Corner of Strand Road & 7th Street) Yangon, Myanmar.
Tel : (951) 221881, 229243, 229245, 229927
Fax : (951) 229246, 222790, 524256
E-mail : columbus@mptmail.net.mm, tours@columbus.com.mm
COLUMBUS TRAVELS & TOURS LTD., (Bangkok)
491/31-32 ( 3 rd floor) Silom Plaza Silom Rd, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Tel ( 66 2 ) 2355317
Fax ( 66 2 ) 2315539
E mail : tour@asiavacation.com
The following are the links to websites of domestic airlines in Myanmar.
YANGON Head Office
146 Dhammazedi Road, Bahan Township, Yangon 11201, Myanmar.
Tel : (+95.1) 501 520, 525 488 Fax : (+95.1) 525 937
info@airmandalay.com rsvn@airmandalay.com.mm marketing@airmandalay.com.mm
Since early 2011, Yangon Airways has been suspended by the government!
YANGON Head Office
MMB TOWER, Level-5, Upper Pansodan Road, Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township, Yangon, Myanmar.
Tel : (+95-1) 383 101 ~ 106, 383 127, 383 152
Fax : (+95-1) 383 109, 379 940
E-mail : cmya@mmb.com.mm, marketing@mmb.com.mm, yamarketing@gmail.com
No.56, Shwe Taung Gyar Street, Bahan Township,
Yangon, Myanmar.
Tel: (+95-1) 514861, 513322, 513411, 513422
Fax: (+95-1) 515102
Hunt Line : (+95-1) 504888
resv: (+95-1) 514741~6, Fax: (+95-1) 538283
Email : info@airbagan.com.mm , market@airbagan.com.mm
International Reservation: intl_rsvn@airbagan.com.mm
Domestic Reservation: rsvn@airbagan.com.mm
Update
Air Kanbawza
A new airline, Air Kanbawza started its flights early 2011. The airline has regular flights to all major tourist destinations in Myanmar.
There is a new Peterman’s Eye Travel community where you can share photos and stories with other travelers…thought I’d share!
http://www.petermanseye.com/travel/getting-there/487-over-the-andes
Cheers!