Bird’s eye view of Mandalay

Myanmar Airways will assign two recently purchased 12-seat Grand Caravan Ex planes to provide sightseeing flights over Mandalay.
According to a local media report, the flights will last 15 minutes, and will be available just twice a week. The plane will fly over Mandalay Hill, Yankin Hill, U Bein Hill and Sagaing Hill offering scenic flights for foreign tourists.
MA will charge 16,000 Ks (US$16.28). The flights will use Chanmyathazi Airport, a World War II airport that is in downtown Mandalay rather than the international Airport at Tada-U Township, some 30 km away.
The airline’s senior pilot, Htin Lin, said the ticket price was affordable for everyone.
“The flight has only just been announced so not many people know about the new service,” he said.
That would include overseas tour operators who have now completed their tour itinerary content for the entire peak season and are unlikely to show any interest in the new service until next year.
But there are enough local residents in Mandalay, who can afford the flights especially photographers who can take aerial shots and sell them to tourists.
The small planes will be used to offer services to small towns that have short air strips such as Kant Kaw, Kutkai, Tanai, Naung Mon, Lone Khin, Manaung and Mrauk-U.

Sourced: ttrweekly