Budget carrier Air Asia may make traveling to one of Myanmar’s biggest hotspots a little easier.
In remarks given to reporters at the airport in Kuala Lumpur on September 15 and quoted in the Myanmar Times today, Tony Fernandes, the CEO of the Malaysia-based airline, said Bangkok to Bagan routes were in the offing and there were also plans to restart a flight to Myanmar’s capital Naypyitaw.
“We will look to restart Naypyitaw and one day will fly direct to Bagan,” he was quoted as saying, adding that the Mandalay-Bangkok route may get a boost in terms of number of trips per day.
If the plans are carried out it could make things a lot easier for travelers.
Right now getting to the ancient pagods and stupas in Bagan involves flying into Myanmar on an international route and hopping on a domestic carrier.
Ditto for Naypyitaw, but we’re finding it difficult to believe the demands to travel there from Bangkok are so high that it merits restarting that route.
However, perhaps Fernandes is banking on the end of sanctions – announced by the Obama administration last week – spurring renewed travel to the boring capital.
So it’s good news but Fernandes gave limited details about when these flights would start or how certain he is that they will indeed start.
We’ll have to wait and see.
