MNA to triple carrying capacity

The national carrier received the first of the Boeing 737-800s in June last year, and the third just a few weeks ago, a spokesperson for GE said.
GE Capital Aviation Services expects to deliver two aircraft a year between 2015 and 2020.
MNA already boasts a fleet larger than the next two largest airlines combined. In addition to the three new Boeing aircraft, MNA runs two ATR72-600 turboprops, two Embraer jets and six other smaller turboprops with between 11 and 16 seats per plane.
This gives it a total carrying capacity of just over 900 seats – of which over half is provided by the three new Boeing 737-800s.
In addition to seven more Boeing aircraft, MNA also has five more ATR72-600s on order, which would take its total carrying capacity to just over 2700, according to information provided by MNA.
The only other Myanmar airline that offers regular international routes is Myanmar Airways International.
That carrier operates four Airbus A320 that give it a total carrying capacity of 720 seats, although it may add more Airbus aircraft to its fleet next year, Aye Mra Tha, MAI’s head of marketing and public relations, said.
The pending Boeing and ATR deliveries would take MNA’s fleet to 25. MNA will use its new aircraft for flights to Chengdu and Shanghai, which are expected to start later this year. MNA already flies to Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong.
MNA’s efforts to bolster its fleet are part of a wider revamp of the national carrier, which includes a corporatisation process that will eventually see it operate as a private company.
Although the firm is increasing its international routes the vast majority of its flights are domestic, and its resurgence represents steep competition for other local carriers.
Source : Myanmar Times

Swiss and German Tourists visit Myan Aung Township

Swiss and German Tourists seen upon arrival at Myan Aung. Photo: Win Bo (IPRD)

EIGHTEEN tourists from Switzerland and Germany guided by Ma Yamin May War arrived at the Ayeyawady Jetty in Myan Aung Township, Ayeyawady Region, on 19 March through waterways. The tourists are touring on the RV Thurgau Exotic II River vessel along the Ayeyawady River.
Upon arrival at Myan Aung, the tousrists visited the Nay Chi Bazaar and downtown Myan Aung and took documentary photos of the ancient buildings in the town.

Source : Global New Light of Myanmar

Growing need to conserve Monastery of Yaw Min Gyi U Pho Hlaing

The Brick Monastery donated by Yaw Min Gyi U Pho Hlaing in 1866. Photo: Maung Pyi Thu (Mdy)

THE Yaw Min Gyi Brick Monastery, donated by Yaw Min Gyi U Pho Hlaing in 1866 (1228 Myanmar Era) requires conservation because of destruction caused by rain and wind.
The monastery was burned down losing all its original wooden infrastructure and concrete rinceaux, there remained only the brick structure during the World War II as the Allied bombed in Mandalay in March 1945.
The wooden beams and floor of the monastery were replaced with concrete beams and concrete floor, and roofed with zinc sheets under the supervision of the Department of Archaeology under the Ministry of Culture in December 1998. Myanmar artists created a rinceaux to match the original. In 2013, according to the instructions of the Ministry of Culture, the Department of Archaeology carried out the work of installing a ceiling, a drainage around the monastery, the installation of doors and windows, Myanmar concrete rinceaux and wiring. The Ministry of Culture has designated the Yaw Min Gyi Brick Monastery as an ancient heritage building.  The Monastery should be renovated and have a garden to attract tourists from abroad and home to come and visit, said a tourist guide.

Source : Global New Light of Myanmar

U Pein bridge repair set to begin soon

 

RENOVATIONS of the U Pein Bridge, a more than 160-year-old tourist a
The bridge will be renovated by the Myanmar Teak Wood Company under the supervision of the Mandalay Region government and the Department of Archaeology and National Museum, said Director U Nyo Myint Tun of the department.
“Renovation works will be carried out in accord with suggestions by historians, experts and local people,” added the director.
The renovation works include replacement of decayed teak pillars with new ones and installing wooden bridge guardrail in original form and minor repairs.  The bridge with 1,086 pillars is 3,967 feet long.
According to sources, the regional government spent K13.4 million on bridge repairs over the 2014-2015 fiscal year.
ttraction in Mandalay, will begin soon, said an official from the Department of Archaeology and National Museum.
Aung Thant Khaing
Source : Global New Light of Myanmar

Western Union to Launch International Money Transfer Services in Myanmar

The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU), a global leader in payments, today announced the signing of Myanmar Oriental Bank, its first Agent to offer Western Union® Money Transfer^SM Services in Myanmar. The service will offer Myanmar citizens a reliable and swift way to receive money from family and loved ones from around the world.
Western Union is one of the first global money transfer companies to operate in Myanmar, paving the way for formalized international money transfers three months after countries led by the US, European Union and Australia decided to lift investment and trade bans against the country.
Over two million Myanmarese are estimated to be employed across Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Bangladesh, Japan, Korea, US, Europe and Australia.
Myanmar Oriental Bank, a leading domestic bank in operation for 19 years, is among the first batch of private banks to be authorized to operate foreign currency services in Myanmar.
With a network of 19 locations, including representation in main commercial cities of Yangon, Mandalay, Mawlamyaing and Monywa, the Bank will work with Western Union to activate its services in accordance with Central Bank regulations.
“We are encouraged by the speed with which Myanmar Oriental Bank, the Myanmar Central Bank and others in Myanmar are facilitating economic change for their people. Western Union is pleased to be a part of this defining economic change in Myanmar,” said Drina Yue, Managing Director and Senior Vice President, Western Union, Asia Pacific.
“We are proud to provide a reliable financial link between overseas Myanmarese and their families back home. Our aim is to expand our network expeditiously and provide 100 percent coverage of countries popular with millions of Myanmarese abroad,” she said.
“We are extremely proud to be linked into Western Union’s impressive global network linking Myanmar to the rest of the world,” said Mr. Mya Than, Chairman of Myanmar Oriental Bank.

For details go to:

http://pymnts.com/news/businesswire-feed/2012/september/11/western-union-to-launch-international-money-transfer-services-in-myanmar-20120911005891/

source:pymnts.com

Orient-Express to Launch New River Cruiser in Myanmar

Orient-Express Hotels, owners or part-owners and managers of 45 hotel, cruise and luxury rail businesses in 22 countries, is to launch a new river cruiser in Myanmar in July 2013.

For details go to:

http://www.orient-express.com/latest_news.jsp

source:various

Singapore Airlines to start daily Yangon service

SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines (SIA) said Wednesday it will start a daily service to Yangon in October to meet growing business and tourist demand for flights to Myanmar’s largest city.
The announcement by one of the world’s top airlines comes amid growing international interest in once-isolated Myanmar, which launched political reforms after ending nearly half a century of military rule last year.
“Demand has been growing strongly for both business and leisure travel to Myanmar, and Singapore Airlines looks forward to serving the country for the first time,” SIA executive vice president Mak Swee Wah said in a statement.
SIA will take over seven of the 16 flights run every week by its regional wing SilkAir from October 28, using 323-seat Boeing 777-200 aircraft to boost the group’s weekly seat capacity to Yangon by 55 percent.

For details go to:

http://www.brecorder.com/business-a-finance/industries-a-sectors/77326-singapore-airlines-to-start-daily-yangon-service-.html
source:Business Recorder