2010-08-11 14:38

YANGON -- The Myanmar Airways (MA), which is a domestic airline, is planning to buy three planes from China to substitute with the existing F-32 type aircraft in use, sources with the aviation authority said on Wednesday.

The 45-seat MA-60 aircraft will arrive in September this year, the sources said.

Related readings:  Myanmar state media hail leader's China visit  China starts building oil, gas pipelines to Myanmar  Oil, gas projects energize relations with Myanmar

The MA is currently operating domestic regular flight services to 25 cities using three jet aircraft, two ATR-72, one ATR-42 and two F-37 aircraft.

In addition to the domestic airline, Myanmar also has an international airline run by the private sector, namely Myanmar Airways International (MAI).

MAI was once a joint venture set up by the state-run Myanmar Airways and a Singapore-based company in 1993 for sole international service flights covering three scheduled flight destinations -- Bangkok, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

In 2007, the Region Air of Hong Kong took over the stake from the Singapore's with 49 percent held by it, while the remainder 51 percent possessed by the state-run Myanmar Airways.

In May this year, a giant Myanmar private company group, Kanbawza, took over the MAI for continuous operation under the government's privatization plan.

The Kanbawza bought up 80 percent stake of the airline with the remainder continued to be held by the government.