Yangon to Barcelona Myanmar Airways Flights

  About Barcelona

Snuggled up by the Mediterranean Sea on the coast of Spain is the beautiful city of Barcelona. The Mediterranean metropolis is one of the largest in Spain and has global recognition as one of the best cities to vacation at. Barcelona is a world leader in the tourism, financial and cultural industries with a tremendous contribution towards fields of sports, entertainment, arts, fashion and science. Barcelona has excellent connectivity with various other European cities via domestic and international routes. In fact, through the port, many cities can actually reach Barcelona, in style.

The bustling energy of the city is something that can only be experienced in person and not just in movies. Barcelona's fervent atmosphere will marvel you, as will the enthusiasm of the locals.

Best time to visit Barcelona

Barcelona is a town of celebration which sees lovely hues and carnivals irrespective of the sticky humidity. The months from May to June are when the temperatures act extra favourable to the tourists and even the residents of the city. With temperatures close to 22 degree Celsius, the summers certainly add more charm to the place. Witness a flurry of festivities that envelop the city as the onset of summer brings varied hues with it. For people travelling from hotter countries, the weather would certainly be a treat. Thanks to the numerous carnivals that take place in the city during springtime, it definitely adds more reasons to visit Barcelona in the said season. Events such as Verbene de Sant Joan and Sonar are some of the festivals that you would enjoy during spring. Although the tourism activities drop come September, the temperature is quite pleasant as it ranges from 20 degree Celsius to 23 degree Celsius. With rains taking over the city, not many tourists are able to visit the beach. Being a coastal delight to many, the lack of beach time automatically reduces the tourist potential.

The summers easily become a high point in Barcelona's tourism. The months July and August especially see a throng of tourists relishing the Mediterranean sun while they hit the lush beaches. Due to this being the peak season, it is obviously going to come with some expensive flight tickets and accommodations. Events such as El Grec and Festa Major de Gracia further attract more tourists to the city. If you want a relaxing vacation which also falls under a good budget, spring is the time for you to fly to Barcelona. The city has exquisite accommodations and even Bnbs. You can book hotels in Barcelona's luxury hotels such as Almanac, W, Mandarin Oriental, The Serras, etc., or go for backpacking and check in to hostels. Either way, you will receive excellent treatment as the staff in Barcelona are quite friendly and happy-to-go.

Places to visit in Barcelona

Barcelona's beaches and coasts might take up most of your attention but do give the city's Catalan-styled infrastructure a peek too. The city has ornate churches, parks, museums and of course, sparkling blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea will marvel you. You can simply walk through the beautiful streets of Barcelona and check out some of their whimsical structures. Some of the flamboyant places to visit in the city include Park Güell, La Sagrada Familia and Casa Batlló. While you're venturing out to check out the city, do not miss Barri Gótic, which translates to the Gothic Quarter. These are the oldest parts of the city. The scenic city streets with alfresco cafes and clubs will definitely get your attention. To see the works of famed artist Pablo Picasso, visit the famed museum Museu Picasso, also located in the city. For the tourists who love the sport football and have a soft spot for FC Barcelona, visiting Camo Nu Stadium should be on your list of places to visit. The UNESCO World Heritage Site, Barcelona's Palau de la Música Catalana (Palace of Catalan Music) will amaze you with stellar acoustics and architectural features.

Things to do in Barcelona

La Barceloneta Beach is undoubtedly the best and the most popular beach in Barcelona that you should check out. There are various water sport activities that take place on the beach, which would entertain you. You can even take surfing sessions or parasailing, to name a few activities. The beach also has some amazing restaurants and food establishments where you will find lip-smacking seafood. While you're having fun at the beach, you should also sign up for a wine tour, especially if it's harvest season. Not only will you get to relish some of the finest wines made in the country, but you'll also get to interact with people from different parts of the world. The city also has a great nightlife with pubs and parties, some even held at the beach. A walk down Las Ramblas will be a fun experience for you since they have some amazing shops for souvenirs and local artworks.

Food and restaurants in Barcelona

Barcelona's cuisine is a perfect melange of traditional Spanish and Mediterranean dishes. From delicious gazpachos to Catalonian classics, you will get the best food experience in Barcelona. There is a lot of history infused in their cuisine which makes their food, a trip of its own. While the rest of Spain is big on dishes made from meat, the Catalonian food has more fish as the base for meals. It would help you tremendously to know what to expect in terms of food in Barcelona. With heavy investment in meat, you should make sure that you have enough room to try their varied cuisine. Catalans have a thing for mixing meat and experimenting with the flavours of diverse meat. It shouldn't surprise you to see chicken and prawns being served to you on a platter. That is just the way they roll. Paella is, of course, the biggest seller in terms of Spanish food in Barcelona. In fact, even Fideuà, a type of paella, is a rage in Barcelona and something you should try. The food culture is another reason why Barcelona stands at a high rank in the list of best places to visit in the world.

While they do love their meat, the food served in Barcelona also sees a nice balance of grilled vegetables nestled against marinated meat. Vegetarians need not worry as there are dishes for your taste buds as well. One traditional dish that you should definitely check out is the escalivada, grilled eggplant tossed with red peppers, olive oil and garlic. Another recipe for the vegetarian folks is the pa amb tomàquet snack, which is basically a bread topped with crushed tomatoes, olive oil and garlic. Make sure to save some room for desserts as well. Savouries such as Mel i mató (extracted from goat cheese) to Cava (Catalan sparkling wine), these dishes complement the classic Catalan rendition of creme brulee, also known as crema Catalana. Some of the best places to indulge in the Catalan and Spanish cuisine are La Patsa Lab, The Coffee House Barcelona, BelleBuon, Billy Brunch. You can further explore more taste at Pizzeria Da Nanni Barcelona, Manna Gelats, Chaka Khan, La Cava Cakery, Don Kilo Restaurant, Teoric Taverna Gastronomica, to name a few.

How to reach Barcelona

By Air

Located on the South coast of Spain, the city can best be reached via air. There are many international routes connected to Barcelona via air, making travelling convenient. Barcelona El Prat International airport has brilliant flight connectivity from Barcelona to major international cities, including India. Although there are no direct flights to Barcelona from India, many flights connecting to the Spanish city with layovers in London, Zurich, Munich, Singapore, to name a few. As one of the biggest tourist attractions in Spain, the city of Barcelona sees a good number of tourists throughout the year. Flight tickets to Barcelona from India are a little expensive, especially round trips. However, if you manage to book your flight tickets beforehand, you might find some great online flight deals to Barcelona. This might even help you cover your accommodation expenses. As a city catering to tourists, often the hospitality and accommodation prices are quite steep. However, as long as you make prior hotel bookings in Barcelona, you will not have much to worry about. You can either opt for luxury stays or go for hostels and homestays.

By Rail

Flight tickets to Barcelona from India could be expensive since it is a high-priced city, to begin with. However, the flight tickets to Madrid from India are comparatively very cheap and affordable. What you can do as a substitute to save up on some euros and get the best of both cities would be to fly to Madrid and use Madrid's domestic rail route to Barcelona. There are many trains to Barcelona from Madrid, Malaga, Zaragoza, Seville and Valencia. Not to mention how Barcelona also has impeccable train connectivity to French cities such as Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse and more.

By Sea

Considering how it is of the busiest ports in the Mediterranean Sea, Barcelona has great connectivity from the sea as well. There are many ships and cruises that connect the city with other European cities such as Rome, Nice, Marseilles, Corsica, Sardinia and more. If you are planning to backpack across Western Europe, then taking a boat or ferry ride to Barcelona from one of these city ports would be a fun voyage. Not to mention how you'll have a good time cruising the Mediterranean Sea.

  About Myanmar Airways

Myanmar Airways International Co., Ltd., is an airline based out of Myanmar with its headquarters in Yangon. The airline is privately owned and predominantly operates international route destinations across Southeast Asia. Its main hub is at Yangon International Airport. Myanmar Airways International's official logo comprises a pyinsa rupa, a mythical animal which is made up of an elephant, horse, bullock, white carp and a lion. The airline came into existence in 1946 by the government of Burma and was called Union of Burma Airways. It was formed by the government to only cater to domestic route services. However, international route services were added to the airline in 1950. The airline functioned as Union of Burma Airways until 1972, post which they acquired the name Burma Airways. The airline underwent a name change in 1989 from Burma Airways to Myanmar Airways. This move took place as the name of the country changed from Burma to Myanmar. Eventually, as the international services were transferred to Myanmar Airways International, the name and airline along with new management was set up in 1993.

The operations of Myanmar Airways International officially commenced in 1993. Myanma Airways and Singapore-based entity Highsonic Enterprises joined hands to create Myanmar Airways International as a joint venture. They also received financial and operational support from Brunei Darussalam's national flag carrier, Royal Brunei Airlines. A majority of the management team handling the airline consisted of Singapore-based staff. The airline also accommodated the new Boeing aircraft with an all-expatriate cockpit crew, trained flight attendants and incorporated the UK Civil Aviation Authority's operating standards. The consortium was terminated, and all the ownership of Myanmar Airways International went over to a Myanmar company. In 2001 though, a new venture was created with Region Air Myanmar (HK) Ltd., taking up 49 percent of the stakes while Myanma Airways continued to hold its 40 per cent in the airline.

Before the 2010 General Elections of the state, Myanmar's government sold 80 per cent of its stakes in the airline to a financial institution, Kanbawza Bank Ltd, while holding back 20 percent of its stake through Myanma Airways (Myanmar's government-affiliated domestic carrier which also has shares in the enterprise). Once Kanbawza Bank took up ownership of the airline, the operations of Myanmar Airways International saw a radical change in terms of its organisational structure and the domestic routes and international route maps. While commercialising the airline, Kanbawza Bank further introduced a domestic airline called Air KBZ. Ever since its radical change in operations, the airline has only been expanding tremendously in terms of flight routes and fleet size. Over the years, the airline has introduced various new routes and connectivity to make it a viable airline option for passengers. The airline also received an IOSA certificate (IATA Operational Safety Audit Program), making it the only airline in Myanmar to be the recipient of the same.

Presently, the airline company is independent of government influence. The airline's new fleet also accommodates an Airbus A320 aircraft which has a great engine and cabin facilities. The operations of Myanmar Airways International are wholly in compliance with the Myanmar Aviation Requirements and also follow the operating standards laid out by the International Civil Aviation Organization. Myanmar Airways International holds a reputation for keeping a clean track record of 0 percent accidents. The airline's operations and flights have not met with a single accident in all these years. It has also received the highest rating of seven stars on the Airline Ratings.com, a recognised safety and product rating entity. Over the years, the airline has managed to expand to various Southeast Asian destinations.

Fleet size of Myanmar Airways International

Currently, Myanmar Airways International's fleet has a total of 5 aircraft. It is purely an Airbus fleet with four Airbus A319-100s and five Airbus A320-200s. Much recently, the airline placed an order for two Embraer 190s. The aircraft is set to be delivered in 2020. Prior to the new all-Airbus fleet, the airline did hold a mixed set of aircraft for flight operations. During different periods of time in the past, the airline hosted Airbus A320-200s, Airbus A321-100s, Boeing 737-400s, Boeing 737-800s, Boeing 757-200s, Fokker 100s and McDonnell Douglas MD-82s. However, these aircraft have since returned from the fleet. All their aircraft have the provision of premium cabin class as well as economy class. The aircraft has been enhanced with the latest technology and engines to ensure that the flights do not meet with any technical difficulties or any accidents. They plan to continue holding the title of 'safest' airline and have worked towards upgrading their fleet with the same amenities and equipment. The two Airbus aircraft are narrow-body models.

Baggage Allowance

Baggage allowance on Myanmar Airways International is the same as set by global standards. Depending on the ticket fare as well as the destination. The free baggage weight that is allowed by the airline for economy class is 30 kg. The business class passengers can carry a baggage allowance of up to 40 kg per piece. The airline has specific rules for passengers travelling to Seoul. The airline allows only 23 kg weight for baggage of passengers travelling to Seoul. In case passengers fail to meet up to the standards set by the airline, then an additional charge will be levied. Provision to purchase extra baggage is available, but the weight of the same depends on the cabin class by which the traveller is travelling. Essentially, passengers must also ensure that the dimension of the checked baggage should not exceed 158 cm. Similarly, the hand baggage allowance is also diverse depending on the passenger's ticket type. The airline allows a piece of hand baggage that can weigh no more than 7 kg and should be within the dimension of 58 cm x 34 cm x 23 cm. Along with this, the passenger can also carry an accessory bag which could be a handbag or a laptop bag or briefcase.

In-flight services

Myanmar Airways International's in-flight services are quite decent. The airline caters to a plethora of in-flight services and facilities to ensure that the passengers have a comfortable journey. The seating is exquisite and has the perfect recline with legroom. Along with this, all seats are equipped with personal entertainment systems with a slew of latest content such as TV shows, movies and more. The airline's flight attendants are also very friendly and helpful. In case you require a blanket or pillow or noise-cancelling earplugs, you can request for the same.

Popular routes and top cities for Myanmar Airways International

Myanmar Airways International caters to only a handful of destinations as it predominantly operates in the Southeast Asian destinations. The major cities that the airline operates in are Mandalay, Yangon, Phnom Penh, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Hefei, Jinan, Jinjiang, Nanchang, Nanjing, Linyi, Ningbo, Qingdao, Yantai, Singapore, Seoul, Taipei and Bangkok. The airline also caters to two Indian cities, namely Gaya and Kolkata. As a country which follows Buddhism heavily, Myanmar has reserved a flight route to Gaya, the place where Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. The massive Mahabodhi Temple Complex is located in Bodh Gaya which receives a tremendous footfall of pilgrims from around the world during Buddha Purnima. At around this time, several pilgrims from Myanmar also head to the Indian holy city to visit the Bodhi Tree where Gautama Buddha rested and eventually attained enlightenment too. Further, the airline also has a few codeshare agreements with airlines, namely Air KBZ, Asian Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Korean Air, Malaysia, Airlines, SriLankan Airlines and Royal Brunei Airlines.

Why travel by Myanmar Airways International?

Despite being in the aviation industry for a long time, Myanmar Airways International is still growing and expanding to reach the other big airlines in the world. Taking smaller steps and touching significant milestones has helped the airline form a strong base of loyal customers. Myanmar Airways International is known to be one of the few airlines with zero percent of accidents to have occurred to any of its aircraft. They plan to maintain this record and hence, are very finicky about the inclusion of newer aircraft to their fleet. However, that has only helped shape their reputation. The airline has excellent domestic route connectivity and is also quite ideal for connecting with various international routes in the Southeast Asian countries. The official website of the airline enables ticket booking, learning about flight status and more such informative details.

Passengers can book a Myanmar Airways International flight on their official website and receive details regarding everything ranging from the web check-in process to baggage allowance restrictions, on their email. Further, Myanmar Airways International's flight schedules have also been added to the airline's page to help passengers understand which flight would be ideal for their journey. They have also introduced miles programme for frequent flyers and customers who wish to be members of the airline's miles programme. They do come with many attractive benefits that the customers would definitely like. Plus, it would only enhance their experience with Myanmar Airways International.