MYANMAR Airways International (MAI) is planning to launch flights from Mandalay to Bangkok in October - the same month that Thai AirAsia is scheduled to begin four-weekly services from Bangkok to Mandalay.

While Thai AirAsia’s Bangkok-Mandalay route will be direct, the alternative offered by the Myanmar flag carrier will incorporate a short stopover in Yangon, said Daw Aye Mra Tha, MAI's marketing & public relations representative.

“We have to add more aircraft before we can start operating (direct) flights between Mandalay and Bangkok,” she explained, adding that the service would run three times a week – on Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays.

As part of its expansion strategy, MAI is also planning to mount direct flights from Yangon to Vientiane, Hong Kong and Seoul later this year (TTG Asia e-Daily, June 13, 2012).

“We are planning to operate (flights to) Hong Kong, and expect to be able to start this route in December,” said Daw.

Meanwhile, MAI will ramp up the frequency of its Singapore flights from two to three times a week through a codeshare arrangement with Jetstar, beginning October 1.

Flights to Siem Reap and Gaya – the second largest city in the Indian state of Bihar – are also set to resume in October, after being suspended due to the low season.