Ruili Airlines from China started a direct flight between Yangon and Dehong of Yunnan province, a second flight for the airline in Myanmar, on October 27, according to sources from Yangon International Airport said.

The airline launched its first flight between Mandalay and Mangshi on January 31 this year.

Hainan Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Xiamen Airlines, Spring Airlines, Kunming Airlines and Ruili Airlines from China launched direct flights between Yangon and towns from China this year.

Kunming Airlines, another airline from China, commenced Yangon-Kunming direct flight on October 16, flying four times a week.

The arrival of Chinese tourists via Yangon International Airport is increased to 81 per cent within nine months in 2019 in compared with the same period last year. The introduction of new flights from China can provide assistance to attract more Chinese tourists via aviation routes.

A total of 36 international airlines are operating 34 international flights based at the Yangon International Airport.

The arrival of tourists from countries, which have been granted visa-free entry, such as China, South Korea and Japan are increased within nine months in this year and the number of Chinese tourist arrivals increased to 135 per cent, Korean tourist arrivals, 89 per cent and Japanese tourist arrivals, 24 per cent, according to the figures from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population.