Flights to Myanmar from Bhutan, suspended more than a decade ago, will start again. The revised Air Service Agreement between Myanmar and Bhutan was signed in Thimphu, yesterday.
The first agreement between the two countries was signed in 2002.
However, Drukair’s flights, twice a week, to Myanmar had to be discontinued because of economic reasons.
Bhutan Civil Aviation Authority’s Director, Wangdi Gyaltshen said Myanmar has considered unrestricted flight frequency between Bhutan and Myanmar with an exception to Yangon. It will be two to five times a week for Yangon.
He added Bhutanese airlines can travel via Myanmar to other countries as well.
“We used to fly via Yangon to Bangkok only twice a week and now they have allowed us to fly twice a week to Singapore or Kuala Lumpur and via Mandalay to Gaya.”
Drukair and Bhutan Airlines welcome the opportunity.
However, they said, they cannot exactly say when they will start their flights to Myanmar.
They will have to conduct a market study, which will take at least six months.
At present, Bhutanese Airlines travel to Nepal, Bangkok, Bangladesh, Singapore, and India.
