Myanmar National Airlines

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 second oldest airlines in Asia after Malaysia Airlines.

History

Union of Burma Airways Boeing 727 at Hong Kong Kai Tak International Airport in 1974

Myanma Airways Fokker F27-600 at Yangon International Airport in 2005.

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

Myanmar National Airlines Boeing 737-800 in new livery at Yangon International Airport (2015).

An Boeing 737-800 at Mandalay International Airport (2015).

As of December 2016, Myanmar National Airlines flies to the following destinations:

Country	City	Airport	Hubs	Notes
Hong Kong	Hong Kong	Hong Kong International Airport		^[9]
India	Gaya	Gaya Airport		Charters
Myanmar	Bagan	Nyaung U Airport
Myanmar	Banmaw	Banmaw Airport
Myanmar	Bokpyin	Bokpyin Airport
Myanmar	Dawei	Dawei Airport
Myanmar	Heho	Heho Airport
Myanmar	Hommalin	Hommalin Airport
Myanmar	Kalaymyo	Kalaymyo Airport
Myanmar	Kawthaung	Kawthaung Airport
Myanmar	Kengtung	Kengtung Airport
Myanmar	Hkamti	Khamti Airport
Myanmar	Kyaukpyu	Kyaukpyu Airport
Myanmar	Lashio	Lashio Airport
Myanmar	Loikaw	Loikaw Airport
Myanmar	Manaung	Manaung Airport
Myanmar	Mandalay	Chanmyathazi Airport
Myanmar	Mandalay	Mandalay International Airport
Myanmar	Mawlamyaing	Mawlamyaing Airport
Myanmar	Monghsat	Monghsat Airport
Myanmar	Monywa	Monywa Airport
Myanmar	Myeik	Myeik Airport
Myanmar	Myitkyina	Myitkyina Airport
Myanmar	Naypyidaw	Naypyidaw International Airport
Myanmar	Putao	Putao Airport
Myanmar	Sittwe	Sittwe Airport
Myanmar	Tachilek	Tachilek Airport
Myanmar	Thandwe	Thandwe Airport
Myanmar	Yangon	Yangon International Airport	Hub
Singapore	Singapore	Singapore Changi Airport
Thailand	Bangkok	Suvarnabhumi Airport
Thailand	Chiang Mai	Chiang Mai International Airport		^[10]

Fleet

The following aircraft (as of October 2016):^[11]^[12]

Aircraft	In Service	Orders	Passengers				Notes
Aircraft	In Service	Orders	C	W	Y	Total	Notes
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	4	2	—	—	70	70	MOU signed May 6, 2014.^[13]
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.^[14]
Boeing 737 MAX 8	—	4	TBA				To be leased from GECAS, delivery from 2017.^[15]
Cessna 208 Caravan	4	—	—	—	9	9
Embraer E-190	2	—	—	20	80	100
Total	20	9

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.^[16]

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.

Myanmar National Airlines Boeing 737-800 Cabin

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.^[17]

Premium Economy class

Premium Economy meal on board a domestic flight

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.^[17]

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.^[17]

Inflight Entertainment

Myanmar National Airlines offers streaming inflight entertainment called airstream^UB 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. airstream^UB is available free of charge. Customers travelling in business class also have the option to access airstream^UB on the in arm monitor fitted in their seat.^[18]

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.^[19]^[20]

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:^[21]^[22]

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.^[23]
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.^[24]
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.^[25]
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.^[26]
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.^[27]
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.^[28]
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.^[29]^[30]

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.^[31]
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.^[32]