By IANS,
Yangon : Myanmar’s national carrier Myanmar Airways International (MAI) will launch a direct service between the country’s Mandalay city and Gaya city in the Indian state of Bihar from Nov 1.
“Travellers who want to visit Gaya can directly go there without coming to Yangon,” Xinhua quoted a MAI official as saying Monday.
The city of Gaya is about 100 km from state capital Patna and a major pilgrimage centre for Buddhists. Hindu spiritual teacher Gautam Buddha is said to have obtained enlightenment there.
The flight service is expected to largely cater to Myanmar Buddhists coming to India for pilgrimage.
Currently, MAI flies to five countries. The airline also plans to launch a direct service between Yangon and Hong Kong later this year.
Myanmar also has five privately-run domestic airliners: Air Mandalay, Yangon Airways, Air Bagan, Asian Wings and Air Kanbawza.