Russia, Myanmar Resume Flights after a 30-Year Break

Russia and Myanmar announced the resumption of their flight services after a 30-year break, as the first regular flight of Myanmar International Airlines arrived in Novosibirsk, according to the Russian Aviation Authority.

A statement by the Russian Aviation Authority said on September 5, the first regular flight of Myanmar International Airlines arrived in Novosibirsk, which took off from Yangon to Mandalay and then to Novosibirsk.

Thus, air contact between Russia and Myanmar, which was interrupted 30 years ago, was successfully restored.

At the end of August, the Russian Aviation Authority granted permission to Myanmar International Airlines to operate flights between Mandalay and Novosibirsk and vice versa. With this, Myanmar became the 38th country to occupy a place in direct flights from Russia.

The authority noted that the start of these flights will create additional opportunities for Russian tourists who prefer to enjoy their holidays in Southeast Asia, and will also help strengthen trade relations.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had announced in a meeting with Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing earlier that relations between Russia and Myanmar are developing positively, and the trade volume in absolute terms is modest, but the trends are good.

Putin added that the volume of trade and economic relations remains modest in absolute terms, but the trend is very good: a 140 percent increase in the first half of this year.