Myanmar poised for more rapid growth in 2013 as foreign carriers expand and local LCC launches

Another year of rapid growth is expected in the Myanmar market as international and domestic carriers continue to expand in response to growing business and leisure demand. Myanmar's international market has already recorded a 64% capacity increase in the nine months since Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won landmark elections in Apr-2012, leading to the rapid opening up of the Southeast Asian country and the lifting of economic sanctions.

Eight foreign carriers have since launched services to Myanmar while several carriers which already served the country added capacity. Following the 09-Jan-2013 addition of Dragonair, Myanmar is now served by 21 foreign carriers which account for about 80% of total capacity to and from the country.

International carriers will continue to expand their operations to Myanmar in 2013 although at a more modest level as it will take time for the capacity added in 2H2012 to be absorbed, particularly given the shortage of hotel rooms and other infrastructure constraints. However, 2013 could see more rapid domestic growth as the country's six existing domestic full-service carriers look to profit from growing demand for travel within the country and Myanmar's first low-cost carrier, Myanmar">Golden Myanmar Airlines">Myanmar">Golden Myanmar Airlines, enters the market.