Burma's domestic airfares shoot up

Ko Dee
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)

September 3, 2007 - In the wake of last month's sudden fuel price increase, three airlines in Burma have raised domestic airfares, an airline official said.

Officials of Yagon Airways, Air Bagan and Air Mandalay after a meeting in August end increased the fares of domestic flights from September 1.

Passengers traveling from Rangoon to Mandalay have to pay 65,000 Kyat (US$ 50) for what was earlier 50,000 Kyat (US$ 38.4).

Airfares for Rangoon to Bagan, Burma's major tourist site, rose to 53,000 Kyat (US$ 40.7) from 40,000 Kyat (US$ 30.7), Rangoon to Heho in Shan state rose to 53,000 Kyat (US$ 40.7) from 40,000 Kyat (US$ 30.7) and Rangoon-Myit Kyi Na-Tachileik airfare has gone up to 120,000 Kyat (US$ 92.3) from 93,000 Kyat (US$ 71.5).

"The airfares were increased following the fuel price hike. The officials of the three airlines held a meeting and decided on the new rates," a marketing official of Air Mandalay told Mizzima.

While three private airlines have fixed new airfares, the government-run Myanmar Airways said it is considering increasing domestic airfares.

"Ours is still the same, but there is a possibility of increasing the fares. But I am not sure when," an official of Myanmar Airways told Mizzima.