In a major boost to trade between North East India and Myanmar, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh announced Thursday the official commencement of Imphal-Mandalay Flight service from November 23 at the Bir Tikendrajit International Airport.
The announcement was made during the launch of an online ticketing portal for the flight service at the chief minister’s secretariat in the presence transport department officials.
The flight service will be operated by Air KBZ of Myanmar twice a week on Wednesday and Saturday of every week.
Air KBZ Myanmar had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Imphal-based KB Enterprises on July 3. The flight is scheduled to commence on the eve of the seven day-long Manipur Sangai Festival, the biggest tourism festival of the state.
Mercina R. Panmei, director of transport pointed out that Mandalay International Airport connects 11 domestic and 19 international destinations and this could serve as a major transit hub for onward travel to other Southeast Asian countries, she noted.
The transport director asserted that the number of travellers between Manipur and Myanmar has increased manifold either for medical treatments, business or religious purposes, tourist transit route or due to cultural ties in the recent past. Imphal-Mandalay Direct air route help in further strengthening and deepening these ties, she added. (With inputs from Agencies)