Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker (third left), is presented with a memento by U Myint Swe, Chief Minister, Yangon Region Government, to mark the airline’s return to Myanmar.
YANGON/DOHA: Qatar Airways (QA) marked the resumption of flights to Yangon after a four-year absence with the launch of scheduled services to Myanmar’s largest city, a QA press statement said yesterday.
Yangon becomes Qatar Airways’ 10th gateway in the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) following on from successful operations to Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Bali, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Hanoi, Singapore, Manila and Phuket – and the carrier’s 119th destination worldwide.
It is also the latest of several route launches so far this year by the rapidly-growing global carrier. Qatar Airways suspended flights to Yangon in January 2008, and is now restoring services, providing greater economic and travel opportunities for the people of Myanmar.
QA Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker led a delegation onboard the non-stop overnight flight QR618 from Doha to Yangon. A traditional water salute heralded the arrival of the aircraft this morning as it taxied to the international terminal.
Guests onboard the flight included Khin Zaw Win, Ambassador of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and responsible for Qatar, together with international media.
The delegation was officially welcomed at Yangon International Airport by U Myint Swe, Chief Minister of Yangon Region. The arrival ceremony was attended by more than 60 VIPs and media.
Al Baker said Qatar Airways’ re-entry into Yangon marked one of the Gulf carrier’s most important route launches of the year.
“Yangon becomes our ninth new destination so far this year to join Qatar Airways’ family of routes and the first Asian launch in 2012,” he said.
Qatar Airways is operating thrice-weekly non-stop scheduled flights into Yangon from its Doha hub, flying an Airbus 319 aircraft in a two-class configuration offering eight seats in Business and 102 in Economy.
The former capital of Yangon and current gateway to Myanmar has by far the largest airport in the country, handling around 2.5 million passengers annually, two-thirds being international visitors – a figure set to rise sharply as airlines start flights from other markets. The Peninsula
