Cambodia's JC International Airlines plans to launch new flights between the Kingdom and Myanmar, according to the airline’s COO and Chief Pilot Anupama Pathirana.

Anupama Pathirana told Myanmar newspaper The Eleven this week: “We plan to launch new flights between Siem Reap and Yangon and Mandalay.”

The airline on Saturday launched three direct flights a week from Phnom Penh to Yangon using the Airbus A320 that can seat 180 passengers.

The company also flies to Mandalay via Macau from Phnom Penh.

“We are providing services to about one million passengers each year and plan to expand our fleet and flights schedules.

“Our services cover over 50 per cent of markets in the Southeast Asia and South Asia regions. We are expecting to run over 50 flights schedules with 20 aircrafts before the end of 2020,” he said.

Sin Chan Sereyvutha, Secretariat of Civil Aviation spokesman, welcomed the plan, but said the route did not seem to be in high demand yet.

“I don’t know how JC studies the market, as the route is not a good market yet as the trend and attractiveness of tourism, investment and trade [between Cambodia and Myanmar] is still limited,” he said, adding that the most popular routes for foreign tourists are from Thailand, China and Singapore.

However, he expects the new flight to encourage Burmese tourists to visit Cambodia.

“I see some benefit in tourism. If he brings more tourists, we will increase arrivals and income,” he said.

Cambodia Association of Travel Agents advisor Hor Vandy agreed that the new flight would boost the number of tourists to Cambodia.

“This is an attractive flight destination because we want guests from third countries who visit Myanmar come to visit Cambodia in both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

“European tourists also want to visit Myanmar, and when there are also flights with Cambodia, it will bring those tourists to the Kingdom,” he said.