Myanmar National Airlines
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Founded | 15 September 1948 (as Union of Burma Airways) | ||||||
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Hubs | |||||||
Fleet size | 19 (+13 on order) | ||||||
Destinations | 31 | ||||||
Company slogan | Journey of a Lifetime | ||||||
Parent company | Ministry of Transport,Union of Myanmar | ||||||
Headquarters | Yangon, Myanmar | ||||||
Key people | Than Tun (CEO) | ||||||
Website | flymna.com |
Myanmar National Airlines (Burmese: မြန်မာအမျိုးသား လေကြောင်းလိုင်း), formerly Union of Burma Airways, Burma Airways, and Myanma Airways, is a state-owned airline and the flag carrier of Myanmar, based in Yangon.[2] It operates scheduled services to all major domestic destinations and to regional destinations in Asia. Its main base is Yangon International Airport.[3] Founded in 1948, it is one of the oldest airlines in Asia.
History
The airline was founded by the government after independence on 15 September 1948, as the Union of Burma Airways (UBA). It initially operated domestic services only, and international services were added in 1950. The name was changed to Burma Airways in December 1972, and to Myanma Airways on 1 April 1989 following the renaming of the country from Burma to Myanmar. International services of Myanma Airways have been made as joint venture airline, Myanmar Airways International (MAI). Myanmar National Airlines is the majority shareholder of Joint Venture Company MAI, set up in 1993.[3] In 2003, it was proposed to set up a Myanmar-based airline for chartered international passenger and cargo flights, which was planned to be called Air Myanmar. What would have been a joint-venture between Myanma Airways and private investors was abandoned in 2005.[4]
In mid-2012, Myanma Airways ordered to lease two new Embraer 190AR from GE Civil Aviation Services Co.Ltd, that replaced its Fokker F-28 from November 2012.[5] On February 11, 2014, at the Singapore Airshow, Myanma Airways signed a $960 million deal with GECAS for six Boeing 737-800s and four Boeing 737 MAX planes. The deal is the largest commercial sale by a U.S. company to Myanmar in decades and is the largest single aircraft order in the history of Myanmar's aviation industry.[6]
In December 2014, Myanma Airways re-branded itself as Myanmar National Airlines.
Following the arrival of its first Boeing 737-800 in June 2015, Myanmar National Airlines announced the resumption of international services after a 22-year hiatus to Singapore, Hong Kong and Taipei. International services resumed with the inaugural flight to Singapore on 19 August 2015.[7] Myanmar National Airlines then launched its second international service to Hong Kong on 4 December 2015 following the arrival of its second Boeing 737-800.[8]
Destinations
As of April 2016, Myanmar National Airlines flies to the following destinations:
Fleet
The following aircraft (as of March 2016):[10][11]
Aircraft | In Service | Orders | Passengers | Notes | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C | W | Y | Total | |||||
ATR 42-320 | 1 | — | — | — | 48 | 48 | Stored at Yangon International Airport | |
ATR 72-212 | 2 | — | — | — | 70 | 70 | To be phased out by 2017 | |
ATR 72-500 | 3 | — | — | — | 70 | 70 | 2 operated for Myanmar Air Force | |
ATR 72-600 | 2 | 4 | — | — | 70 | 70 | MOU signed May 6, 2014.[12] | |
Beechcraft 1900 | 2 | — | — | — | 19 | 19 | ||
Boeing 737-800 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 24 | 132 | 164 | Leased from GECAS, first delivery on 11 June 2015. To be equipped with Split winglets by 2016.[13] | |
Boeing 737 MAX 8 | — | 4 | — | — | — | TBD | To be leased from GECAS, delivery from 2017.[14] | |
Cessna 208 Caravan | 4 | — | — | — | 9 | 9 | ||
COMAC ARJ21-700 | — | 2 | — | — | — | TBA | ||
Embraer E-190 | 2 | — | — | 20 | 80 | 100 | ||
Total | 19 | 13 |
Services
Mingalarbar Service
Beginning in 2015 following the resumption of international services, Myanmar National Airlines has launched its "MIngalarbar Service" to its passengers. The service is complimentary for Business Class passengers and to Premium Economy and Economy passengers for an extra fee. Services include amenities such as Fast Track Immigration and Security,assistance on arrival, limo service to and from Yangon International Airport, priority check-in and access to Mingalabar lounges in both the international and domestic terminals of Yangon International Airport.[15]
Cabin
Myanmar National Airlines has been introducing new cabin interiors and in-flight entertainment since June 2015 on their new fleet of Boeing 737-800 and ATR 72-600 aircraft.
Business class
Business Class is only available on the new Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The Business Class seats have 21 in (53 cm) width and recline to 42 in (107 cm) of pitch and feature electrical outlet and leg rest. A 9 in (23 cm) PTV is located in the seatrest offers AVOD.[16]
Premium Economy class
Premium Economy is available on the Embraer 190 and new Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The seat pitch is 36 inches – four inches more than Economy Class and have a bigger recline. In-seat power outlet and streaming inflight entertainment is offered only on the Boeing 737-800 aircraft.[16]
Economy class
Economy class is offered on all of MNA's aircraft. The Economy Class seats are 17.2 in (44 cm) in width on the Boeing 737-800 and 18 in (46 cm) on Embraer 190 aircraft with 32 in (81 cm) of pitch, while the ATR 72, Beech 1900 and Grand Caravan offer 17 in (43 cm) in width and a seat pitch between 30-32 inches. In-seat power outlet and streaming inflight entertainment is offered only on the Boeing 737-800 aircraft.[16]
Inflight Entertainment
Myanmar National Airlines offers streaming inflight entertainment called airstreamUB on its Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Passengers will be able to watch movies, TV shows and listen to music via in-seat monitors, or on their own smartphone, tablet (iOS or Android), or laptop over a wireless connection on board the aircraft. airstreamUB is available free of charge. Customers travelling in business class also have the option to access airstreamUB on the in arm monitor fitted in their seat.[17]
Accidents and incidents
Union of Burma Airways
- On 26 June 1954, Douglas DC-3 was hijacked by members of the Karen National Defense Organization (KNDO, later the Karen National Liberation Army). After the killing of Saw Ba U Gyi in 1950, the first president of the Karen National Union (KNU), the group sought to regain both a political initiative and financial leverage. Three KNDO members - Major Saw Kyaw Aye, Captain Thein Kyaw and Captain A Nyein - planned to hijack a plane, and use it to smuggle illegal weapons. They successfully hijacked the plane, and forced its British pilot Captain A.E. Hare to land on a deserted beach, after other group members had failed to build a suitable temporary runway in Karen. Finding 700,000 Burmese kyat in metal chests in the cargo, cash being transported between bank branches, they confiscated this and then let the plane take off. Censorship banned reporting of the story for over 50 years, but in April 2014 it was the subject of the book The World's First Hijacking, and is being developed into a Hollywood-produced film under the same title.[18][19]
Burma Airways
The former Burma Airways had a poor safety record but now, as Myanma Airways is strongly maintaining its safety under ICAO and Myanmar DCA regulations and requirements:[20][21]
- On 23 May 1969, Douglas DC-3 XY-ACR crashed on approach to Lashio Airport killing all six people on board. The aircraft was operating a domestic non-scheduled passenger flight.[22]
- On 16 August 1972, a Douglas C-47B, registration XY-ACM, crashed shortly after take-off from Thandwe Airport on a scheduled passenger flight. Twenty-eight people on board were killed and only 3 survived.[23]
- On 24 August 1972, Vickers Viscount XY-ADF of Union of Burma Airways was damaged beyond economic repair at Sittwe Airport when it departed the runway on landing and the undercarriage collapsed.[24]
- On the morning of Saturday, 25 March 1978, a Burma Airways Fokker F-27 Friendship 200 lost height and crashed into a paddy field shortly after take-off from Yangon-Mingaladon Airport, killing all 48 people on board.[25]
- On Thursday, 24 January 1980, a Burma Airways Fairchild FH-227B struck the roof of a tobacco factory and crashed following an apparent engine failure in mid-air, killing 43 people. One person survived the crash.[26]
- On 21 June 1987, a Burma Airways Fokker F-27 Friendship 200 slammed into a 8200 feet mountain shortly after take-off from Heho Airport, killing all 45 people on board.[27]
- On Sunday, 11 October 1987, a Burma Airways Fokker F-27 Friendship 500 crashed into a 1500 feet high mountain, killing all 49 people on board in Myanmar's deadliest air disaster. 36 foreigners, 14 of them Americans, seven Swiss citizens, five Britons, four Australians, three West Germans, two French citizens and one Thai were among the dead.[28][29]
Myanma Airways
- On 27 January 1998, a Myanma Airways Fokker F27 crashed while taking off from Yangon, Myanmar, killing 16 of the 45 people on board.
- On 24 August 1998, Myanma Airways Flight 635 crashed into a hill on approach to Tachilek Airport killing all 36 on board.[30]
- On 6 June 2009, Myanma Airways Flight 409, Fokker F28-4000, registration XY-ADW, overran the runway at Sittwe Airport. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.[31]
See also
References
- 1 2 "AIRFRAMES.ORG - Aircraft Database - airline UBA fleet". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ↑ "Contact." Myanma Airways. Retrieved on 30 December 2012. "Myanma Airways Head Office 104, Kanna Road, Yangon, Myanmar."
- 1 2 "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 10 April 2007. p. 53.
- ↑ "Report: Myanmar state airline in joint venture for chartered cargo, passenger flights". AP Worldstream. Associated Press. 29 September 2003. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
Michael Edward Brown (2004). New global dangers: changing dimensions of international security. MIT Press. p. 65. ISBN 0-262-52430-9.
Myo Theingi Cho (29 September – 5 October 2003). "New airline ready to fly". Myanmar Times. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
Myo Theingi Cho (9–15 August 2004). "Air Myanmar set for take-off". Myanmar Times. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
"New Air Line to be launched" (PDF). The New Light of Myanmar. 29 July 2004. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
"New Myanmar-foreign joint venture airline to launch int'l flight". Asian Tribune. 6 July 2004. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
"Myanmar Domestic Airline to Stretch Wing to Regional Destinations". Xinhua. 7 October 2005. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
"News from Yangon (Rangoon)". Yangonow. December 2003. Retrieved 10 November 2010. - ↑ volaspheric: Myanma Airways orders two new Embraer 190
- ↑ http://www.genewscenter.com/Press-Releases/GE-Capital-Aviation-Services-GECAS-to-Lease-10-New-Boeing-Aircraft-With-Myanma-Airways-4522.aspx
- ↑ http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/business/16038-myanmar-national-airways-takes-wing-again-in-foreign-skies.html
- ↑ http://www.anna.aero/2015/12/07/myanmar-national-airlines-launches-second-international-route/
- ↑ "Myanmar National Airlines Adds Hong Kong Service from Dec 2015". Retrieved 3 January 2016.
- ↑ "Aircraft and Fleet Lists -ch-aviation.com". ch-aviation. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ↑ Our Fleet, Myanma Airways
- ↑ "Eleven Myanmar". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ↑ "Myanmar carrier leases 10 Boeing planes worth $1.2b". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ↑
- ↑ http://www.flymna.com/mingalabar-service
- 1 2 3 http://www.flymna.com/cabin-classes
- ↑ http://www.flymna.com/inflight-entertainment
- ↑ KYAW HSU MON (September 13, 2013). "Burma’s First Hijacking—Soon on Film". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
- ↑ Jonah Fisher (27 June 2014). "The man who carried out one of the world's earliest hijackings". BBC News, Myanmar. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
- ↑ "JACDEC´s AIRLINER SAFETY STATISTICS: AIRLINES". JACDEC. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
- ↑ "TRAVEL REPORT: Burma (Myanmar)". Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
- ↑ "XY-ACR Accident Description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
- ↑ "XY-ACM Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
- ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 8 October 2009.
- ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
- ↑ "XY-ADK Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
- ↑ "XY-ADP Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
- ↑ "XY-AEL Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
- ↑ "CRASH OF AIRLINER IN BURMA KILLS 49, 14 FROM U.S.". New York Times. 12 October 1987. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
- ↑ "MYANMAR GOVERNMENT REPORTS CRASH OF PASSENGER PLANE IN LAOS". AFP. 27 August 1998. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
- ↑ "06. June 2009 Myanma Airways Fokker 28-4000 XY-ADW Sittwe Airport, Myanmar (Burma)" (PDF). Jacdec. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Myanma Airways. |
- (English) Myanma Airways
- (Burmese) Myanma Airways
- (English) Official website
|