YANGON, 31 May 2021: Myanmar Airways International and Air KBZ suspended most domestic flights from 29 May through to 8 June, according to the airline’s Facebook page.
The two airlines have stopped flights from Yangon to Tachileik, Kalay, Kyaing Yong, Dawei, Myeik and Kawthaung, claiming the decision is in response to local government orders to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
The suspension remains in place until 8 June.
MAI and Air KBZ announced what they call a “simplified travel policy for passengers impacted by the flight suspensions. Their options are:
A one-time date change free to the next available flight based on seat availability within ticket validity until 30 Jun 2021;
A one-time name change free;
Full ticket refund for the flight cancelled with travel date between 29 May to 8 June 2021.
MAI is flying Embraer E190 aircraft on domestic routes. In theory, it flies twice-daily services from its base in Yangon to Mandalay, Myitkyina, Kyaing Tong, Sittwe, Myeik, Dawei, Puta-O, and Kawthaung. In practice, flights have been reduced to just a few departures weekly.
Last week MAI announced it would resume some international routes in June, mostly exclusive repatriation or relief flights to and from Kuala Lumpur, Seoul-Incheon, Bangkok, and Dubai.
To depart Myanmar on any of the designated repatriation flights to the above cities requires a booking 11 days before departure. All travellers leaving the country must have a valid Covid-19 RT-PCR negative test result certified not more than 72-hours before the flight.
Passengers must adhere strictly to all travel restrictions and follow the rules of a quarantine and Covid-19 tests imposed by authorities at both ends of the journey. Myanmar is closed to all travel with the exception of official travel authorised by the military junta.
