ENGLISH DEYEA NEWS

by Nam Davies | New Delhi (Mizzima) – With many Burmese in Singapore returning to Burma for the December holiday season, it has become very difficult to get air tickets in time.

It is very difficult to get air tickets to Burma in this peak Christmas season, New Year and Chinese Lunar New Year in January next year as there are many Burmese nationals who wish to return to Burma during this holiday season.

"I've bought air ticket to Burma in September for taking a January flight. We must make the payment almost immediately after booking in this peak season otherwise it will be sent to the waiting list," Ma May Thwe, who is working as an engineer in Singapore, said.

A staff from ticket office in Peninsula Plaza in Singapore said that all 'Myanmar Air International' (MAI) and Singapore airline owned 'Silk Air' flights to Burma are fully booked.

"The tickets are fully booked for December and on January 23rd, 24th and 25th. The tickets will be available before 10th January. The air ticket problem will be sorted out in February," she said.

Similarly Ko Ye Kyaw from the customer service of Silk Air which flies twice daily and thrice on Sundays on Singapore-Yangon-Singapore route said that the tickets are fully booked for December.

"Both Burmese and foreigners are flying to Burma in this peak season therefore that it's hard to get air tickets. But there are waiting lists. One more flight to Rangoon will be added on December 22 to alleviate the woes of air travelers only for one day," he said.

The MAI return tickets to Burma of two weeks validity will cost S$ 383 and S$ 452 for a month's validity. Silk Air return ticket will cost S$ 400 and S$ 440 respectively.

Only MAI and Silk Air are currently flying in the Rangoon-Singapore-Rangoon route. Air Bagan owned by U Tay Za had to suspend its Singapore flights after the US imposed targeted economic sanctions on the junta in Burma.