The minister finished off by saying the government had planned a strategy to help realise the vision. The plan has four key areas and these are improving air traffic infrastructure, launching new international flight routes, running campaigns to increase passenger awareness of the nation’s own airlines and freeing up economic rules.
As part of the infrastructure upgrades, the government has already endorsed contracts to expand Yangon International Airport and build a new international airport at Hanthawaddy. The project will see Yangon’s annual passenger throughput increase from 2.7 million to 6 million.
When Hanthawaddy opens in four years time, it will add another 12 million to Myanmar’s annual air arrivals capacity. Statistics collated by Myanmar’s Department of Civil Aviation show the number of passengers using national airports rose 16 per cent to 6.49 million in 2013 when compared with the previous 12 months.
Myanmar’s stated aim will see it competing with Thailand to be the regional air hub. Thailand has long expressed its intention of attaining this ranking and has claimed that the main airport in the country, Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi, is the best equipped facility in Southeast Asia.
Myanmar vies for air gateway status
News in Asia
Myanmar’s Transport Minister has just announced that the country will be competing for the status of Southeast Asian air hub. Minister U Nyan Htun Aung told local reporters the country was in a prime position to fulfil the target and it intended to strive for an eco-friendly air industry.