Yangon – Cebu Pacific Air, the Philippines’ largest low-cost carrier, will launch direct flights to Myanmar’s two main cities – Yangon and Mandalay – in early 2015, airline sources announced on Thursday.

The direct flight is planned in the wake of increased business undertakings in the Southeast Asian nation initiated by most of the Philippine citizens during the middle of this year.

Cebu Pacific Air is set to offer three flights a week from Manila to Yangon and Mandalay.

The airline’s scheduled flights to Myanmar in 2015 will be part of its international flight expansion which also include Singapore, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Macau.

In December 2013, Myanmar and the Philippines signed an agreement on mutual visa exemption for the two countries’ visitors, updating their 1979 Air Services Agreement to promote trade and tourist linkages between the two countries.

The Philippines ranked the 15th on the list of 36 countries and regions investing in Myanmar with 146 million U.S. dollars in two projects as of June 2014 since 1988 when Myanmar opened its door to the world.

There is a total of 24 international airlines currently flying to Myanmar with seven other airlines operating domestically. Source: Xinhua