The busiest airport in Myanmar, the Yangon International Airport lies 15 kilometres to the north of the city centre. It operates domestic flights across the country with all of Myanmar’s local airlines, together with international services from around 30 different carriers.
The Yangon International Airport is divided into three terminals, with Terminal 1 opened in March 2016 to handle the majority of international flights. The former International Terminal is now Terminal 2, while a new domestic terminal was opened in December 2016 following the demolition of its predecessor. The modern facilities at the Yangon International Airport include five airline lounges, as well as duty-free shops and eateries, and the airport now can handle six million passengers per year. There are money exchange counters in the arrivals area and ATMs throughout the airport, as well as Internet stations and Wi-Fi in Terminal 1. Porters wait near the baggage claim carousels to assist with luggage, and rental car agencies can be found once clearing security and customs formalities. While Air Bagan, Air KBZ, Asian Wings Airways, Air Mandalay and Myanmar National Airlines offer domestic routes across the country, there are also regular flights throughout Asia to Kuala Lumpur, Beijing, Bangkok, Delhi, Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City. Emirates also fly to Dubai and Qatar Airways to Doha, with both offering connections from here through to Europe and North America.
Taxis are the most convenient way to get from the Yangon International Airport into the city centre and are relatively affordable. Alternatively, taxis can be used to access one of two nearby railways stations, from where visitors can connect to Yangon Central and destinations across Myanmar.
The Yangon International Airport was built on the former airfield RAF Mingaladon in 1947 which operated as a base for fighter jets during World War II. After a period of slow deterioration, it underwent extensive renovations and modernisation in 2003, including the extension of its runway.