Effects of yttrium addition on the formation of oxide scales and the oxidation resistance of elemental powder metallurgy (EPM) processed TiAl-Mn-Mo-C alloys were studied. The Y-containing TiAl-based alloys (0:1$0:6 at%Y) showed better oxidation resistance than Y-free alloy oxidized in air at 800C for 350 h. The Y-containing alloys showed a significantly reduced weight gain, especially for 0.6 at%Y-added alloy. In the Y-free alloy, the scale formed during extended air-exposure at 800 C consisted of TiO 2 and -Al 2 O 3 . For 0.6 at%Y-added alloy, however, the oxide scale was composed of a complex mixture of TiO 2 , -Al 2 O 3 , Y 2 O 3 and Al 5 Y 3 O 12 . The formation of multi-phase (Y, Al)O-type oxides layer in a transitional Y-rich subscale close to the substrate and an increase of the amount of -Al 2 O 3 in the mixture oxide layer in the Y-added alloys were the main contributor to improving the oxidation resistance of the alloys. The reduction of oxygen content in the substrate also had a beneficial effect on the oxidation resistance of the Y-containing TiAl-based alloys.