Burma's National Airline Cancels Most Flights

Burma's national airline Myanmar Airways International announced Friday it was halting most of its flights amid a dramatic downturn in visitors.

The airline has suspended flights to Thailand and Malaysia after its London-based insurer halted coverage due to the recent crisis in Burma, the airline said in a statement. It did not name the insurance company.

The carrier said it was maintaining its one other route to Singapore because those flights are handled by budget carrier Jetstar airways through a code-share arrangement.

Travel to Burma has dropped dramatically following globally televised reports of Burmese troops brutally quashing pro-democracy protests last month.

A number of governments, ranging from the United States to New Zealand and Britain, have advised their citizens against visiting Burma because of possible violence. Several big tour operators have called for a boycott as the debate on the ethics of visiting Burma intensifies.