AVIATION

Myanmar Airways plans Mandalay-Bangkok flights in October

Yangon - Myanmar Airways International plans to launchflights from Mandalay to Bangkok, and Gaya, India, in October, reports said Sunday.

The Mandalay-Bangkok route will include a stopover in Yangon,the national carrier’s commercial executive Aye Mra Tha told the Myanmar Times.

Thai AirAsia, a low-cost carrier, also plans an October launch fordirect flights between Bangkok and Mandalay, the main commercial hubfor upper Myanmar and a leading tourist destination.

"We will also start direct flights to Gaya, India, from Mandalayin October," Aye Mra Tha said. Gaya is the closest airport toBodhagaya, the place where the Buddha obtained enlightenment and apopular destination for Buddhist pilgrims.

"We have four aircraft now and two more aircraft will be addedbefore the end of August. After that it will be possible to startthese two routes from October," she said.

Myanmar has become a hot destination for tourists since the 2010general election, the first in two decades. The new government hasintroduced politcal and economic reforms that have helped it to shedits pariah status among Western democracies.

But the country faces a chronic shortage of hotels and flights toaccommodate the sudden influx of tourists

-- The Nation 2012-08-14

"We have four aircraft now" WOW.

Air Asia too, 4 x weekly, from Oct 4, bookings taken now, from 1500 thb.

I looked for a hotel in Mandalay, not much choice