Myanmar-Japan joint venture eyes airline licence

Myanmar’s already cluttered airline industry could be about to welcome another carrier into its ranks. ANA Holdings and Shwe Than Lwin-owned Golden Sky World have formed a joint venture and applied to set up an international airline, according to a Transport Ministry official. The joint venture submitted a “late application” to the outgoing govt, which is awaiting approval from the Myanmar Investment Commission, a director at the ministry’s Department of Civil Aviation said. The airline is “tentatively” named Asian Blue, and will only serve international routes, added the director. ANA Holding’s equity participation in its new joint venture will be limited to 49%, the director said. Airline industry sources said that the joint venture had already received approval from the ministry. <br/>