Business and leisure travellers from Singapore now have a direct link to Mandalay, the financial capital of Myanmar.

Golden Myanmar Airlines has launched daily services between the two points, via Yangon. Currently, Singapore Airlines, SilkAir, Jetstar Asia and Myanmar Airways International, the other carriers that fly between the two countries, offer services only from Singapore to Yangon.

Singapore is Golden Myanmar's first international destination, said the airline's managing director, Mr Aung Gyi. Coupled with Changi Airport's strength as a well connected aviation hub, "it was not a difficult decision" for the airline to pick Singapore as its first destination outside Myanmar, he said.

"We plan to utilise Singapore as an extended gateway into Myanmar's leading commercial cities and we also hope to reach other parts of Asia from Changi Airport," he added.