MAS Starts Code-Sharing With Myanmar Airways Int'l

[Min Chun 0]

MAS Starts Code-Sharing With Myanmar Airways International (MAI)

September 26, 2005 19:11 PM

 

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and Myanmar Airways International (MAI), Monday signed a code-sharing agreement on air route between Kuala Lumpur and Yangon which would take effect Oct 30, 2005.

 

Under the code-share, MAS will maintain its four-times weekly frequency while MAI will reroute its services to three-times weekly, thereby resulting in daily services between both capital cities.

 

Speaking to reporters, MAS senior general manager Datuk Rashid Khan said the load factor for the KL-Yangon route averaged at 72 percent while growth in air traffic was 29 percent last year.

 

The code-share, he said, would boost both capacity and traffic for the route.

 

Meanwhile, the code-share was the 23rd for MAS and the third such code-share for MAI after Thailand and Qatar.

 

With the exception of Cambodia and Laos, Rashid said MAS has established code share agreements with all Asean member countries.

 

He said the KL-Yangon route saw a great growth trend in the last few years but the existing air agreement had limited its expansion. However, the code sharing would enable both airlines to combine resources and operate daily flights.

 

He said the airline was also urging both governments to initiate talks on air services agreement.

 

Explaining further, he said Asean's open skies policy would only be in place in 2008 and therefore, any short-term requirements in terms of capacity or frequency would require a framework air services agreement.

 

"We can cater for traffic growth once we codeshare because the demand into Malaysia from Yangon is mainly for labour traffic movement while Myanmar is becoming a tourist appeal for short-haul travellers," he said.

 

Meanwhile, MAS chairman Datuk Dr Munir Abdul Majid said both countries had been following the same flight path as Malaysia had started the Malayan Airways in 1947 while Myanmar had theirs in 1948.

 

Despite the dips and ups in domestic happenings, he said Malaysia had always maintained relations with Myanmar and in 1994, MAI had leased two Boeing 737-400 from MAS.

 

Also as part of the 5-year lease arrangement and to support MAI's international operations, Munir said MAS provided a group of seven pilots, four engineers and three mechanics.

 

It was also understood that in this last four years, MAI cabin crew had used MAS Academy for their safety training.

 

-- BERNAMA

 

Source : BERNAMA.com

[kandiah k 0]

Great news !!! I am sure MAI and MAS will be great partners !!!