CNI News

15 August 2023

Myanmar Airways International (MAI) is set to launch the first direct flight from Mandalay Tadar Oo Airport and Yangon Airport to Novosibirsk of Russia on the 5th of September 2023. 

Although the launch of the direct flight between Myanmar and Russia was good, an airline would be able to exist long-term only if the set number of passengers was full, said U That Lwin Toe,a tourism entrepreneur to CNI News.

" Now Russian airlines are hurt a lot in business when, in any case, the Myanmar side takes risk by flying. The Russian side also is trying to fly, but it's not successful yet. Just negotiation is under way. As an airline from the Myanmar side launches the direct flight, we'll have to watch how long the airline will sustain the direct flight. Third countries also are important. Myanmar alone cannot be relied upon. It will be okay only when 70 percent of the seats are taken. We welcome the MAI's expansion of the Russian tour. But it needs to prepare a lot in order to be sustainable for long. It's not predictable because both countries have their own difficulties", he said

Foreign tourists

Because Russia is among the countries that Myanmar has given Visa Free, direct flight between the two countries can make Myanmar tourism improve, said some people. 
The airline will fly from Myanmar to Russia every Tuesday and Saturday and the ticket fare is 409 US dollars. Myanmar-Russia direct flight will be connected with the famous domestic trips - Ngapali, Heho, Bagan, Nyaung U reportedly.

Russian tourists from that direct flight can go to Suwunna Bumi and Donmuang airports in Thailand, Singapore, Hanoi in Vietnam, Phnom Peng in Cambodia and Kolkata in India reportedly.

Foreign tourists

" Because it's the rainy season. Some hotels have been closed and they re-open only when the open season starts. All the hotels will be get ready in the open season. And they are to arrange a FAM-trip (familiarization trip) with Russian tourism organizations." said U Tin Tun Aung, Shan State Hotel and Tourism Directorate.

Moreover, in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic, the rate of going to Russia from Myanmar was about 400 people and that of coming to Myanmar from Russia was about 4,000 people. 

However, due to economy and other reasons, it is questionable if Russian tourists will be able to come on which tourism entrepreneurs comment.