Yangon International Airport

Yangon International Airport (Burmese: ရန်ကုန်အပြည်ပြည်ဆိုင်ရာလေဆိပ်; MLCTS: rankun apranyprany hcuingra lehcip [jàɴɡòʊɰ̃ əpjìpjì sʰàɪɴjà lèzeɪʔ]) (IATA: RGN, ICAO: VYYY) is the primary and busiest international airport of Myanmar. The airport is located in Mingaladon, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) north of central Yangon. All ten Myanmar carriers and about 30 international airlines operate at Yangon International Airport. The airport is also colloquially known as Mingaladon Airport due to its location.

Yangon International Airport

ရန်ကုန်အပြည်ပြည်ဆိုင်ရာလေဆိပ်
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerGovernment of the Republic of Union of Myanmar
OperatorYangon Aerodrome Co., Ltd
ServesYangon
LocationMingaladon 11021, Yangon
Yangon Division, Myanmar
Hub for
Elevation AMSL109 ft / 33 m
Coordinates16°54′26″N 96°07′59″E
Websiteyangonairport.aero
Map
RGN
Location of airport in Myanmar
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
03/21 11,201 3,414 Asphalt
Statistics (2018)
Passengers6,104,854
International passengers3,930,590
Source: Yangon Aerodrome Co. Ltd.[1]

History

During World War II, the airfield was called RAF Mingaladon and served as an operating base for fighter aircraft such as:

There was also a Communication Flight of the Burma Volunteer Air Force equipped with Tiger Moths and Westland Lysanders and anti-aircraft support for the airfield was provided by members of the 12th Burma Rifles.

Mingaladon was then used by the Japanese, and Japanese bombers based in Bangkok were moved forward to Mingaladon when there was a full moon. The British at the Wireless Experimental Centre in Delhi were breaking BULBUL the IJA air-to-ground code, and could predict Japanese air raids. On one occasion Allied nightfighters "got the lot and all night we could hear Mingaladon air base calling for its lost children".[2]

Additional units;

  • Air Headquarters Burma Communication Squadron RAF[3]
  • Air Headquarters Burma Communication Flight RAF[3]
  • Air Headquarters Netherlands East Indies Communication Squadron RAF[4]
  • No. 221 Group Communication Squadron RAF[5]

After World War II, Yangon Airport was built on the former RAF Mingaladon in 1947 by the Calcutta Metropolitan Airports Authority. Once regarded as the best in Southeast Asia and the primary airport serving that region, the airport fell into disrepair and remained that way for decades, as new superhubs like Singapore Changi Airport, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport and Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta were built and superseded Yangon's facilities.

Airport capacity was boosted to 6 million passengers per year in early 2016. Currently, there are plans to build a completely new and larger airport, Hanthawaddy International Airport, on a much larger site and somewhat away from Yangon.

Modernization

A modernization program was launched in April 2003 and resulted in a new terminal and an extended 3414 m runway.[6]

Designed by the Airport Development Division of CPG Corporation of Singapore, a new terminal was constructed at a cost of US$13.3 million by Asia World.[7] It can handle 900 arriving and 900 departing passengers simultaneously.[8] The design meets IATA service standards and complies with ICAO safety and security standards at a cost of SG$30 million. Other notable features include:

  • Separate floors for arriving and departing passengers to lessen congestion
  • Automated baggage handling system with an integrated check-in system
  • Four air bridges, capable of handling four Boeing 747s
  • Special lounges for use by government officials and business people
  • A two-story parking garage with spaces for 340 vehicles

In June 2011, the government announced plans to expand the airport by 40% and increase its capacity from 2.7 million passengers to 3.8 million passengers annually.[9] The airport was already over its annual capacity of 2.7 million passengers, having accepted 3.1 million in 2012[10] and 4 million in 2014.[11] To fulfill this increased demand, new international and domestic terminals are being constructed and are expected to be finished end of 2016. After upgrading, Yangon International Airport will be able to service 6 million passengers annually.[11]

In 2013, a contract worth $150 million was awarded to a consortium led by an affiliate of Asia World to construct a new domestic terminal and expansion of airport apron.[10]

The new international terminal (T1) opened in March 2016, with the previously existing international terminal being designated as T2. The new domestic terminal (T3) opened on December 5, 2016.

Terminals
The check in desks in Terminal 2

Terminal 1

In August 2014, the old domestic terminal was demolished and construction began for the new six-story Terminal 1 which will handle international flights. The opening ceremony was held on March 12, 2016. After the opening of Terminal 1, the airport can handle 6 million passengers annually, as opposed to 2.7 million before.

Terminal-1

Terminal 2

After the opening of Terminal 1, the former International Terminal was renamed "Terminal 2." The building was designed by the CPG Corporation of Singapore and constructed by the Asia World Company costing US$13.3 million. The terminal can handle 900 arriving passengers and 900 departing passengers at the same time. Terminal 2 was closed in July 2018 to undergo extensive renovation. All international flights are now operating from Terminal 1.

Terminal 3

Terminal 3, which is used for domestic flights, opened on December 5, 2016, replacing the old domestic terminal which was demolished in August 2014.

Guard of Honour Building (VIP Terminal)

The former VIP terminal was temporarily used as the domestic terminal until Terminal 3 was completed. The Guard of Honour Building has been demolished, to make way for a connector between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger
AirlinesDestinations
9 Air Guangzhou
AirAsia Kuala Lumpur–International
Air China Beijing–Capital, Chengdu, Kunming
Air IndiaDelhi, Gaya, Kolkata
Air KBZ Bagan, Chiang Mai, Dawei, Heho, Kalaymyo, Kawthaung, Kyaing Tong, Lashio, Mandalay, Myitkyina, Naypyidaw, Sittwe, Thandwe
All Nippon Airways Tokyo–Narita
Asian Wings Airways Bagan, Dawei, Heho, Kawthaung, Kyaing Tong, Mandalay, Myeik, Tachilek
Bangkok Airways Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi, Chiang Mai
Biman Bangladesh AirlinesDhaka
Cathay Dragon Hong Kong
China AirlinesTaipei–Taoyuan
China Eastern Airlines Guangzhou,[12] Hohhot, Kunming, Nanning, Shanghai–Pudong,[13] Wuhan[14]
Seasonal charter: Changzhou,[15] Nanjing[15]
China Southern Airlines Guangzhou, Haikou,[16] Shenzhen[17]
flydubaiDubai–International[18]
Golden Myanmar Airlines Bagan, Heho, Mandalay, Naypyidaw, Thandwe
Hainan Airlines Chongqing[19]
IndiGo Kolkata[20]
JC International Airlines Guiyang, Phnom Penh[21]
Jetstar Asia Airways Singapore
Korean Air Seoul–Incheon
Kunming Airlines Kunming[22]
Malaysia Airlines Kuala Lumpur–International
Malindo Air Kuala Lumpur–International
Mann Yatanarpon Airlines Bagan, Heho, Kyaing Tong, Mandalay, Myitkyina, Tachilek, Thandwe
Myanmar Airways International Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi, Guangzhou, Kolkata, Mandalay, Seoul–Incheon,[23] Singapore
Seasonal: Gaya
Seasonal Charter Hangzhou,[24] Nanjing, Ningbo
Myanmar National AirlinesAnn, Bagan, Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi, Chengdu, Chiang Mai, Dawei, Heho, Hong Kong, Kawthaung, Khamti, Kyaing Tong, Kyaukphyu, Lashio, Loikaw, Magway, Mandalay, Mawlamyaing, Myeik, Myitkyina, Naypyidaw, Pathein, Phuket, Putao, Singapore, Sittwe, Tachilek, Thandwe
Seasonal Charter: Gaya
Neos Seasonal: Milan–Malpensa[25]
Nok Air Bangkok–Don Mueang
Qatar Airways Doha
Qingdao Airlines Hangzhou, Ningbo[26]
Ruili Airlines Mangshi[27]
Sichuan Airlines Chengdu, Hangzhou,[28] Xi'an[29]
SilkAir Singapore
Singapore Airlines Singapore
Spring Airlines Shanghai–Pudong[30]
Thai AirAsia Bangkok–Don Mueang
Thai Airways Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi
Thai Lion Air Bangkok–Don Mueang
Thai Smile Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi
Vietjet Air Hanoi
Vietnam Airlines Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City
XiamenAir Xiamen[31]
Yangon Airways Bagan, Dawei, Heho, Kyaing Tong, Mandalay, Myeik, Myitkyina, Naypyidaw, Tachilek

Statistics
The Courtyard (Terminal 2) seen inside from the airport departure lounge
The departure lounge - Gate 1 (Terminal 2)

Top destinations
Busiest flights out of Yangon by flight per weekly[32]
RankDestinationsFrequency (Weekly)
1 Mandalay 93
2 Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi 91
3 Heho 76
4 Singapore 58
5 Nyaung U 56
6 Bangkok-Don Mueang 54
7 Nay Pyi Taw 47
8 Sittwe 41
9 Thandwe 29
10 Kuala Lumpur 27

Traffic by calendar year
PassengersChange from previous yearMovementsCargo
(tons)
2016 5,454,18870,307
2017 5,916,59708.48%78,076
2018 6,104,85403.18%
Source: Yangon International Airport[1]

Accidents and incidents
  • On 25 March 1978, Fokker F-27 Friendship 200 XY-ADK lost height and crashed into a paddy field just after takeoff from Mingaladon Airport, killing all 48 people on board.[33]
  • On 27 January 1998, a Myanma Airways Fokker F27 crashed while taking off from Yangon, Myanmar, killing 16 of the 45 people on board.
  • On 29 January 2017, U Ko Ni, a constitutional lawyer and advisor to Aung San Suu Kyi was assassinated outside of Gate 6.
  • On 8 May 2019, a Biman Bangladesh Airlines Flight 60 operating the Dhaka-Yangon route by Bombardier Dash-8 Q400 skidded off the runway while landing. Nobody was injured critically. The 33 people, including the pilot, co pilot and the passengers, suffered minor injury.[34]
  • On 2 August 2019 a Golden Myanmar Airlines Y5-506 ATR-72-600 departed from Mandalay to destination Yangon and the landing gear of nose wheel broke when it landed on the runway of Yangon International Airport.No significant damage or injuries were reported in the incident.[35]

Airport shuttle bus

Intermodal shuttle buses

The Yangon Bus Service (YBS) provides airport shuttle bus line that stop at 13 bus stops between Yangon International Airport and Yangon Central Railway Station. The buses make stops at Yangon International Airport, 8 Mile, Nawade, Kaba-Aye Pagoda, Lanni, Hanmithit, Shwegondine, Bahan 3rd Street, Kyauktaing, Yauklan and Sule Pagoda. Stops on the return journey include Sule, Yangon Railway Station, Zoological Gardens, Bahan 3rd Street, Shwegondine, Lanni, Kaba-Aye Pagoda, Nawade, 8 Mile and the airport.[36] The fare is 500 kyats (approximately 50 U.S. cents).

  • Former Domestic Terminal of Yangon International Airport
  • Terminal 2 Under Construction
  • The Air Field
  • Entrance Hall (Terminal 2)
  • Arrivals Hall (Terminal 2)
  • The Mural of Kandawgyi Lake (Terminal 2)
  • Aircraft at Yangon International Airport

References

Citations
  1. "Built for 20 million MPPA, Yangon International Airport welcomed 5.92 million passengers to round off 2017 | Yangon Aerodrome". Archived from the original on 29 August 2018.
  2. Smith, Michael (2000). The Emperor’s Codes: Bletchley Park and the breaking of Japan’s secret ciphers. London: Bantam Press. pp. 244–246. ISBN 0593 046412.
  3. Lake 1999, p. 129.
  4. Lake 1999, p. 18.
  5. Lake 1999, p. 126.
  6. "Yangon airport completes runway extension". 28 July 2008. Archived from the original on 15 February 2012.
  7. "Yangon International Airport opens new terminal". 25 July 2007.
  8. "Yangon international airport terminal put into service after renovation". 25 May 2007.
  9. Aye Sapay Phyu (20 June 2011). "Government reveals plan to expand Yangon International Airport". Myanmar Times. Archived from the original on 21 June 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  10. "Myanmar Air Services Grow Rapidly Despite Safety Record". 22 October 2013.
  11. "A 2015 finish planned for first part of Yangon airport expansion". 2 February 2014.
  12. Liu, Jim. "China Eastern adds Guangzhou – Yangon from late-Jan 2020". Routesonline. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  13. "China Eastern adds Shanghai – Yangon service from June 2019". routesonline. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  14. https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/284562/china-eastern-adds-wuhan-myanmar-service-from-late-may-2019/
  15. https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/282536/china-eastern-adds-new-scheduled-charters-to-yangon-in-jan-2019/
  16. "New air route links south China island to Myanmar - Xinhua - English.news.cn". news.xinhuanet.com.
  17. "China Southern adds Shenzhen – Yangon route from Oct 2018". routesonline. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  18. "flydubai adds Yangon / Krabi service from Dec 2019". Routesonline.
  19. "Hainan Airlines adds Chongqing – Yangon from late-Jan 2019". routesonline. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  20. "IndiGo plans Yangon launch in Sep 2019". Airlineroute. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  21. "JC Cambodia linking Phnom Penh and Yangon-Myanmar in Aug 2019". Khmertimeskh.com. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  22. Liu, Jim (1 October 2019). "Kunming Airlines begins Myanmar service from Oct 2019". Routesonline. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  23. 미얀마국제항공(8M) 12월 4일 인천- 양곤 취항으로 편리해지는 미얀마 하늘길. www.ttlnews.com (in Korean).
  24. Liu, Jim. "Myanmar Airways International adds Hangzhou service in 3Q19". Routesonline. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  25. "Where we fly". neosair.it. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  26. Liu, Jim. "Qingdao Airlines plans new international routes in 4Q19". Routesonline. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  27. https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/287129/ruili-airlines-adds-mangshi-yangon-service-in-late-oct-2019//
  28. https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/281977/sichuan-airlines-adds-hangzhou-yangon-from-mid-dec-2018/
  29. 2018, UBM (UK) Ltd. "Sichuan Airlines adds Xi'An – Yangon from Nov 2018".CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  30. "First Shanghai-Yangon direct flight to open in July". Shine.cn. 21 May 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  31. https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/284774/xiamen-airlines-schedules-xiamen-yangon-launch-in-late-june-2019/
  32. Flightradar24. "Flightradar24.com - Live flight tracker!". Flightradar24.
  33. "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  34. "Biman Airlines Plane Skids Off Runway in Yangon, Myanmar". The New York Times. 8 May 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  35. "Yangon airport runway closed temporarily after a plane nose wheel breaks". Mizzima News. 9 August 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  36. "YBS Airport Shuttle commences in Yangon - Global New Light Of Myanmar". www.globalnewlightofmyanmar.com. Retrieved 6 July 2018.

Bibliography
  • Lake, A (1999). Flying units of the RAF. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.

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