6 Dec 2022 18:17

Direct air traffic to be launched soon between Russia, Myanmar - Russian economic development minister

MOSCOW. Dec 6 (Interfax) - Russia and Myanmar plan to launch direct air traffic between the two countries in the near future, with flights planned from both the European part of Russia and Siberia and the Far East, Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov said.

"Big work needs to be done here, of course. Normal logistics need to be set up, we need direct flights, moreover from the Siberian part of Russia, from the Far East, and from the European portion of the country. Why am I speaking separately - because various types of aircraft will be required for this. Airlines of Russia and of Myanmar will operate here. Well, and of course, they'll need to be connected to flights within the country," Reshetnikov said in an interview with the Rossiya 24 television channel, commenting on the results of a meeting of the intergovernmental commission for trade and economic cooperation that took place in Naypyidaw in Myanmar on Monday.

The development of relations between the countries in the sphere of tourism will expand Russians' abilities to vacation at reasonable prices during the winter, he said.

Three large free economic zones are developing in Myanmar, one of which is conducive to the development of tourism, Reshetnikov said.

"But it's deep there, and thus a large seaport is planned. And for us it's important that there's a good port and normal direct delivery from our ports in the Far East, from Novorossiysk on the Black Sea, from northwestern ports, first of all from St. Petersburg," he said.

According to Economic Development Ministry's materials for the meeting, Myanmar Airways International is planning to launch cargo and charter flights between Yangon and Moscow, and Ural Airlines is planning to launch flights between a number of Russian cities and the city of Mandalay.