THE South Korean government has given the green light for the country’s two national carriers to operate regular direct flights to Myanmar for the first time, the South Korean Yonhap wire service reported last week.

The South Korean Ministry of Construction and Transportation said Korean Air and Asiana Airlines will provide seven weekly flights from Incheon International Airport to Yangon, the report said.

However, a travel source in Yangon said there was no immediate plan for the two carriers – Korean Air and Asiana Airlines – to launch regular service despite the government’s permission.

A senior official from Myanmar’s Civil Aviation Department under the Ministry of Transport said the permission was granted in accordance with an amended agreement made between civil aviation authorities from both countries in September.

“According to the original bilateral air agreement made in 1978, only one national carrier from each country could fly to destinations in both countries, but the amendment now allows two national carriers from each country to fly,” the official said. “We amended the agreement with an aim of promoting tourism.”

Korean Air offered charter flights from South Korea to Myanmar from May to September this year, while Asiana Air offered the same service from July to the end of August.

Meanwhile, Myanmar-based Air Bagan announced earlier this month that it would launch charter service from Yangon to Incheon and Osaka, Japan, at the end of this year.