Myanmar National Airlines (MNA) is due to launch its maiden flight to Singapore today, the latest phase of a dramatic makeover that has seen the company revamp its routes, aircraft and even uniforms the Financial Times reported on 16 August.
The ministry of transport has invested $37m in MNA, allowing it to acquire 16 new aircraft and work with Avia Solutions, a British aviation consultancy, the carrier said. It added that it would publish financial statements and was “on track to become profitable, within its own right, in a short space of time”.
But MNA’s plans to expand beyond its 26 domestic routes appear challenging when set against the wider industry backdrop, according to industry experts.
The route chosen by MNA to launch its international expansion plans is already highly competitive. Total capacity between Myanmar and Singapore has grown 50 per cent over the past three years, according to the Capa Centre for Aviation consultancy.