Emirates Airline launched its inaugural flight to Yangon, Myanmar, this morning. This marks the 155th destination served by the airline which was recently named as the world’s best airline by Skytrax based on a survey of several million air travelers.
The flight was welcomed by a water cannon salute followed by a press conference and an exchange of gifts by Badr Abbas, Senior Vice President Commercial Operations – Far East – of Emirates Airline and U Aung Kyaw Htun, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Transport, Myanmar.
Myanmar is a rapidly growing economy with a population of 60 million and Yangon – formerly known as Rangoon – is its largest city with 6 million inhabitants. Emirates’ direct flight to Yangon will connect the country to the world and help Myanmar work towards achieving its target of 7.5 million tourists a year.
Myanmar – formerly called Burma – is famous for Burma teak hardwood and its golden Shwedagon Pagoda. Rudyard Kipling’s poem “Mandalay” speaks of the charm of the country – “Come you back, you British soldier; come you back to Mandalay!” Perhaps Emirates will be able to charm British tourists to experience Myanmar.
