Thailand seeks new airline route to Myanmar city

BANGKOK, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Thailand seeks to open a direct flight to a tourist destination in central Myanmar, said a government official on Wednesday.

Tourism & Sports Minister Kobkarn Watanavrangkul has proposed in a recent cabinet meeting that Thai airlines be given a new route directly and daily to Bagan, an ancient city with about 2,200 Buddhist temples and pagodas in Myanmar's Mandalay Region, the official said.

The Thais, mostly being tourists, may visit Bagan via Mandalay's Nyaung U airport which does not have a direct flight to and from Thailand yet.

Thai airline passengers might be able to choose to fly directly to Bagan and save some traveling cost without stopping over at Yangon, the former Myanmar capital, according to the tourism minister.

The Thai and Myanmar authorities are yet to decide upon such possibilities, given the fact that the Thai side is already seeking to expand daily flights between the two neighboring countries.

There are currently an average of 150 flights of Thai airlines to Myanmar in a week, compared to less than 30 flights of Myanmar airlines to Thailand weekly.