Yangon Aerodrome Company will upgrade the Yangon International Airport to open up new markets despite the slowdown in visitor growth in 2018 compared to the past five years

Yangon Aerodrome Company Limited (YACL) have announced they will be increasing the capacity of Yangon International Airport (YIA), and stepping up marketing to open new international routes, even as YIA is likely to close 2018 with the slowest growth in air passenger traffic in five years.

At a media briefing to announce the five millionth passenger arrival so far this year, YACL said that 2018 is expected to show an increase of 2.5% of around six million in air passenger traffic at YIA, compared to 5.92 million for the whole of 2017. Over the past five years, air passenger growth at YIA had increased at an average of 8.6% per year.

YACL said that while tourist arrivals from Asian markets continue to grow in 2018, those from European and North America markets appear to have been impacted by international media reports on domestic Myanmar issues.

“While there has been a slowdown in visitor growth, we have continued to expand YIA’s capacity and capability while intensifying efforts to open up new markets. We are confident that, in partnership with all the relevant stakeholders in the tourism industry, the community and the Myanmar government, 2019 tourist air passenger traffic will surpass that of 2018,”said Mr Ho Chee Tong, Chief Executive Officer of YACL.

YACL took over YIA’s operation and management in October 2015 under a Public-Private Partnership tender from Myanmar’s Department of Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Transport and Communications. The agreement is for 30 years of operation, with an option to renew for a further 20 years (10+10). Based on the estimated six million arrivals in 2018 and the significant investments to date, YIA is currently operating well below its sustained capacity.

Since early 2018, YIA has been working to make enhancements such as completion and go-live of Airport Operations Control Center (AOCC), full revision of the airport layout including revision of parking stands, revamped apron A to allow eight positions for A320 and B737 types or 10 positions for propeller aircrafts; and added two more taxiways expediting runway vacancy.

In terminal improvements include 30 new check-in counters at T1 with autonomous multilevel security equipment and five new Baggage Claim Belts at T1 apart from new lounges and food and beverage outlets, and advanced technical support training and certification, skills development and talent acquisition.

“We have and continue to improve infrastructure, safety and efficiency processes. YIA can now handle wide-body aircraft including B777-300ER and A350. The current capacity will allow YIA to meet foreseeable growth needs for many years to come even with a single runway operation. With further enhancements, innovation and technology upgrades, YIA has the potential to increase the capacity much further,”said Mr Jose Angeja, who was appointed Chief Operating Officer of YACL in November 2017.

Mr Angeja said YIA has increased movements (one movement is one takeoff or one landing) per year from 62,937 in October 2015 to 77,000 per year currently. The latter is well below that of major single runway airports such Xiamen (China) with 192,000; Fukuoka (Japan) with 183,000; Phuket (Thailand) with 105,000 and world leaders Gatwick (UK) with 286,000 and Mumbai (India) with 320,000.

Based on current capacity and international standards, subject to clearance for arrivals and departures by Myanmar’s Air Traffic Control, YIA has the potential to operate up to 170,000 movements per year (or 19 movements per hour compared to an average of eight currently).

“We are enhancing infrastructure, safety, technology, service levels and most importantly, the skill sets of Myanmar staff who will be YIA’s leaders of tomorrow. YIA is the gateway to Myanmar and to the city of Yangon, and we strive to deliver a compelling user experience,”said Mr Angeja.

Over the next two to three years, YIA’s further enhancements will include another parking apron for up to 13 Code C aircraft (Boeing 737), a rapid exit taxiway, construction of maintenance hangars, a rescue and fire-fighting station and reconstruction of the old Terminal 2 that will include technology upgrades.

The number of international airlines using YIA has increased from 25 in October 2015 to 31 currently (with the latest being Sichuan Airlines from China making its first flight to YIA on 13 November 2018). YIA now connects to 29 international destinations, compared to 21 previously. It also connects to 28 domestic destinations and handles seven domestic airlines.

In the coming months YIA will work closely with the Ministry of Hotels & Tourism to address concerns arising from slower growth and to increase international air connectivity by directly marketing to airlines at international air travel events to open new route, developing sister airport connectivity within Asia; and - Partnering organizers of MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and events) to use Myanmar as a location for such events.

(Myanmar Business Today: https://www.mmbiztoday.com/articles/yangon-aerodrome-company-announces-upgrades-yangon-international-airport )

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