JAKARTA. Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia signed a code-share agreement with Myanmar Airways International on Wednesday to enhance its network in Southeast Asia as well as to spur economic activities between the two countries.

The agreement was signed by Garuda sales and marketing director Erik Meijer and Myanmar Airways International managing director Si Thu in Cengkareng, Banten, witnessed by Garuda president director Emirsyah Satar, Indonesian Ambassador to Myanmar Ito Sumardi and Myanmar Ambassador to Indonesia U Min Lwin.

With the code-share agreement, both carriers will connect passengers between Jakarta and Yangon through their hubs in Singapore and Bangkok.

“Myanmar is a potential market for us and this agreement will provide more choices for our passengers in Indonesia who wish to go to Myanmar. We also hope that this flight service will increase trade and tourism activities between the two nations,” Erik said on Wednesday.

The collaboration will be effective next month.

Shi Thu added that there were around 55,000 passengers traveling between Indonesia and Myanmar every year for business and travel purposes.

“With this collaboration we want to create more flexibility and improve our services to the customers who want to go to major destinations in Indonesia,” Thu said.

Editor: Hendra Gunawan