Yangon International Airport Explained

Location:Mingaladon 11021, Yangon
Yangon Division, Myanmar
Opened:1947
Hub:
Elevation-F:109
Elevation-M:33
Pushpin Label:RGN
Pushpin Label Position:right
R1-Surface:Asphalt
Yangon International Airport
Iata:RGN
Icao:VYYY
Pushpin Map:Myanmar
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of airport in Myanmar
Mapframe:yes
Type:Public
Owner:Government of the Republic of Union of Myanmar
Operator:Yangon Aerodrome Co., Ltd
City-Served:Yangon
R1-Number:03/21
R1-Length-M:3,414
R1-Length-F:11,201
Stat-Year:2018
Stat1-Header:Passengers
Stat1-Data:6,104,854
Stat2-Header:International passengers
Stat2-Data:3,930,590
Footnotes:Source: Yangon Aerodrome Co. Ltd.
Website:yangonairport.aero

Yangon International Airport (in Burmese pronounced as /jàɴɡòʊɰ̃ əpjìpjì sʰàɪɴjà lèzeɪʔ/) is the primary and busiest international airport of Myanmar. The airport is located in Mingaladon, 15km (09miles) 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. Outside photo of the airport:

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 had decrypted 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".[1]

Additional units;

After World War II, Yangon Airport was built on the site of 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 super hubs like Singapore Changi Airport, Kuala Lumpur Sepang, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta were built and superseded Yangon's facilities.

In November 2012, Condor began flying seasonally to Frankfurt with Boeing 767s. The outbound flight from Yangon made a stop in Phuket, but the inbound one was direct.[2] [3] The airline cut the route at the end of the first season.[4] Airport capacity was boosted to 6 million passengers per year in early 2016. Currently, there are plans to build a new, 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.[5]

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.[6] It can handle 900 arriving and 900 departing passengers simultaneously.[7] 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:

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.[8] The airport was already over its annual capacity of 2.7 million passengers, having accepted 3.1 million in 2012[9] and 4 million in 2014.[10] 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.

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.

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 5 December 2016.

Terminals

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 12 March 2016. After the opening of Terminal 1, the airport can handle 6 million passengers annually, as opposed to 2.7 million before.

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$13.3million. 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 now operate from Terminal 1.

Terminal 3

Terminal 3, which is used for domestic flights, opened on 5 December 2016, replacing the old domestic terminal which was demolished in August 2014.[11]

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 Terminals 1 and 2.

Airlines and destinations

Cargo

Statistics

Top destinations

Busiest flights out of Yangon by flight per weekly, as of 6 July 2024.[12]
RankDestinationsFrequency (Weekly)
1 Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi60
2 Mandalay33
3 Bangkok–Don Meung28
4 Singapore-Changi28
5 Bagan–Nyaung U22
6 Heho22
7 Dawei20
814
911
109

Traffic by calendar year

Passengers Change from previous year Movements Cargo
(tons)
20165,454,188 70,307
20175,916,597 8.48% 78,076
20186,104,854 3.18%
Source: Yangon International Airport[13]

Accidents and incidents

Airport shuttle bus

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.[17] The fare is 500 kyats (approximately 15 U.S. cents).

References

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Smith, Michael . Michael Smith (newspaper reporter) . The Emperor's Codes: Bletchley Park and the breaking of Japan's secret ciphers . Bantam Press . 2000 . London . 244–246 . 0593-046412 .
  2. Web site: Condor to Start Siem Reap and Yangon Service in W12 . Airline Route . 2012-01-19 . 2 September 2023 . 2012-01-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120121230623/http://airlineroute.net/2012/01/19/de-reprgn-w12/.
  3. Web site: Condor to fly to Yangon in November . TTG Asia . 2012-09-24 . 2 September 2023 . Khanna, Rahul.
  4. Web site: Flight plan Winter 2013/14 . Condor . March 2013 . 2 September 2023.
  5. News: Yangon airport completes runway extension. 28 July 2008. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120215121615/https://www.mmtimes.com/no429/b003.htm. 15 February 2012. dmy-all.
  6. News: Yangon International Airport opens new terminal. 25 July 2007. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090417010239/https://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/asiapacific/news/article_1309165.php. 17 April 2009.
  7. News: Yangon international airport terminal put into service after renovation. 25 May 2007.
  8. News: Government reveals plan to expand Yangon International Airport. Aye Sapay Phyu. 20 June 2011. Myanmar Times. 5 March 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110621055436/https://mmtimes.com/2011/news/580/news58012.html. 21 June 2011. dmy-all.
  9. News: Myanmar Air Services Grow Rapidly Despite Safety Record. 22 October 2013.
  10. News: A 2015 finish planned for first part of Yangon airport expansion. 2 February 2014.
  11. Web site: လေဆိပ်. asiaworldcompany.com.
  12. Web site: Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map. Flightradar24.
  13. Web site: Built for 20 million MPPA, Yangon International Airport welcomed 5.92 million passengers to round off 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20180829214444/http://yangonairport.aero/built-for-20-million-mppa-yangon-international-airport-welcomed-5-92-million-passengers-to-round-off-2017/. 29 August 2018. Yangon Aerodrome.
  14. Web site: Accident description. Aviation Safety Network. 13 March 2016.
  15. Web site: Biman Airlines Plane Skids Off Runway in Yangon, Myanmar. 8 May 2019. The New York Times. 8 May 2019.
  16. Web site: Yangon airport runway closed temporarily after a plane nose wheel breaks. 9 August 2019. Mizzima News. 11 August 2019.
  17. Web site: YBS Airport Shuttle commences in Yangon - Global New Light Of Myanmar. https://web.archive.org/web/20180706104701/http://www.globalnewlightofmyanmar.com/ybs-airport-shuttle-commences-in-yangon/. usurped. 6 July 2018. www.globalnewlightofmyanmar.com. en-US. 2018-07-06.