The GOLDEN FLIGHT New era dawns at Yangon University Life on the river A day trip to Mingun The last lament of Beikthano’s queen NOVEMBER 2013 contents 12 Features 8 The sky is no limit 12 Life on the river: a day trip to Mingun 22 New era dawns at Yangon University 30 The last lament of Beikthano’s queen 36 A jade oasis at Ngapali 42 City Mart tackles social issues with love and hope 46 Padonmar: Upscale Myanmar dining 52 Feel the Myanmar flavour 62 Your horoscope Regulars 66 Destinations 72 Offices 73 Route map 30 74 Travel tips 77 Passenger sales agents 80 Useful numbers The Golden Flight - Air Mandalay Inflight Magazine | November 2013 22 36 management Chief Executive Officer Kyaw Kyaw Executive Officer 46 Ko Ko Maung editorial Editor Thomas Kean Advertising Thinn Sanda Thuzar Win Naung Publishing License Than Thar Htoo Photographers Thomas Kean, Aye Zaw, MST Design & Layout Prodigy Printing Shwe Zin Printing (0368) Distribution Air Mandalay All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means including electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the publisher. 42 AIR MANDALAY LIMITED No. 34, Shwe Taung Gone Avenue, Bahan Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Tel: +95-1 525 488, 501 520 Fax: +95-1 525 937 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.airmandalay.com mingalabar! About Us Air Mandalay Limited is a joint venture company that was incorporated on 6th October 1994 to operate as Myanmar’s first joint venture airline and support the country’s tourism industry. The airline, based in Yangon, has since established itself as a domestic carrier of high standards which operates to all of Myanmar’s main tourist destinations and commercial hubs. The airline also offers air charter services to destinations both within the country and in the region. In September 2010 Air Mandalay added one ATR-72 to its fleet and refurbished its existing aircraft. To reflect this step forward for the company the aircraft livery was also updated to a more modern design. Due to the growth of tourism and economic development in Myanmar, air transportation has become an important contributor to both the country’s economic growth and its infrastructure development. The country is looking to position itself as a major tourism destination capable of handling an increasing number of foreign visitors and Air Mandalay industry will play a vital role in achieving this. Corporate Identity Air Mandalay’s logo depicts the mythological royal Hintha bird, which symbolises loyalty, respect for traditional values, stability, good luck and prosperity. The colours in our logo are also significant. Yellow represents the numerous golden pagodas found throughout Myanmar, which is often called the Golden Land. Burgundy signifies the colour of our commitment to provide safe, reliable and comfortable flights for our passengers. 6 The Golden Flight | Air Manadalay Inflight Magazine Corporate Profile Our Fleet Our Crew Air Mandalay’s modern fleet currently In selecting and training our multilingual cabin crew, comprises two ATR-72-212s and one ATR we aim to provide high levels of service consistent with 42-320, which are all made by EADS of Myanmar’s gentle traditions. Our pilots are trained at France and Alenia of Italy and ATR facilities and undergo recurrency training every six powered by Canadian-built Pratt & Whitney months. Engineers are trained at both ATR and Pratt engines. Air Mandalay’s fleet is maintained & Whitney facilities to ensure the ATR aircraft operated by a maintenance organization which is by Air Mandalay are always well maintained. approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). All aircraft in Air Mandalay’s fleet and the maintenance facility are inspected once a year by the Direction Generale de l’Aviation Civile (DGAC) of France. Air Mandalay’s Aircraft Maintenance Organisation has European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Part 145 approval. The Golden Flight | Air Manadalay Inflight Magazine 7 The sky is no limit ith a landmass of 676,577 by Lord Marland,” says Khaing Tun, Senior sq km, Myanmar is one of Trade & Investment Manager at UKTI. “It W Southeast Asia’s largest was necessary for us to charter a return countries – second only to Indonesia. flight between Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw as Limited road and rail networks mean we were working on a rather challenging that air transportation is fundamental schedule. We selected Air Mandalay for a to both tourism and business. In fact number of reasons but most importantly it has become an increasingly critical because their safety record was in contributor to the nation’s economic accordance with UN guidelines. growth as it continues to develop at a striking speed. With its head office in As Adam Htoon, Group CEO responsible Yangon, Air Mandalay is one of a handful for ensuring the airline’s success of local airlines operating in Myanmar. explains, “Our mission is, and has It has routes connecting travellers with always been, to ensure that we provide main tourist destinations and commercial quality service and safety which meet hubs. Having established a good international standards.” reputation as a carrier of high standards, Air Mandalay is often the airline of choice Testament to this is the fact that Air for visiting dignitaries and business Mandalay’s pilots are trained at ATR delegations, with its planes being facilities and undergo re-currency chartered by top international officials. training every six months. In addition the aircraft engineers at the facility in “After an absence of 16 years, UK Trade Yangon (which has European Aviation & Investment Myanmar (UKTI) officially Safety Agency (EASA) part 145 approval) opened on 11 July 2012, coinciding with are trained at both ATR and Pratt & the arrival the first British trade mission led Whitney facilities to ensure the ATR aircraft operated by Air Mandalay are always well maintained to the European “In our experience everyone at Air Mandalay JAR 145 Standard. AlI this might sound perfectly routine to UK ears but it bucks was very professional, both their ground the trend in a country hat has had a critical lack of exposure to international and on-board services were exceptional. business practices. Therefore the delivery of such high standards is no Moreover they were flexible in order to meet small feat and one that Air Mandalay has the clients’ needs, while at the same time be achieving for 18 years – since they were incorporated as Myanmar’s first offering a very reasonable price. It is for privately owned airline with a remit to these reasons that we would not hesitate to support the country’s tourism industry. recommend Air Mandalay to any businesses At every level, a commitment to exemplary service is an innate part of the or companies looking to expand their company’s corporate culture. Khaing Tun continues, “In our experience everyone operations in Myanmar.” at Air Mandalay was very professional 8 The Golden Flight | Air Manadalay Inflight Magazine both their ground and on-board services the tourism industry is the first to see were exceptional. Moreover they were the transformation and feel the impact. flexible in order to meet the clients’ I hope that existing service providers needs, while at the same time offering will improve and expand to meet the a very reasonable price. It is for these increasing demands.” reasons that we would not hesitate He emphasises this saying, “Equally, to recommend Air Mandalay to any I’d like to see new players in the travel businesses or companies looking to and tourism industry. The market has expand their operations in Myanmar. not been fully saturated and having competition helps companies upgrade Retaining a strong position will be vital their services and standards.” He may going forward, since the industry is likely not have to wait too long for this to to become increasingly competitive and become a reality but remains confident complex as the tourism sector heats up. of Air Mandalay’s standing and that even Htoon’s mood is buoyant. “Myanmar’s broader horizons are ahead. business landscape is now opening up to new investments and business “Our long-term plan is to become a ventures. The market has in no way boutique regional airline,” indicates reached full capacity and the country Htoon. For now though his focus is on is abundant with natural and human the GoIden Land and on making other resources. We also enjoy a strategic countries aware of what it has to offer, geographical location. Of course “Whether you have only heard about infrastructure such as transportation, Myanmar or have been here before, electricity and telecommunications please come and see the new Myanmar. are still largely underdeveloped in the The changes should be experienced in country but all this is about to change person as written words can only say so very soon. Things are happening at a much. Seeing is believing.” fast pace and I am optimistic about how they are developing. However, we must also keep the environment in mind. At Air Mandalay we believe in limiting our impact wherever possible by implementing policies that can reduce our carbon footprint and by taking a responsible attitude to waste management.” Besides heading up a private joint venture company in one of the country’s hottest industries, Htoon is also actively involved in the ICT sector and was one of the pioneers in bringing the internet to this once secluded nation. He is therefore in an excellent position to take the pulse of the economy. “With the influx of tourists and business travellers, The Golden Flight | Air Manadalay Inflight Magazine 9 10 The Golden Flight | Air Manadalay Inflight Magazine Life on the river: A day trip to Mingun By Lann Say Thaw ingun is in and of itself a worthy destination but getting there is half the attraction and Mprovides a window into life on one of Asia’s most important rivers, the Ayeyarwady.