30 June 2025 — Air travel between Kunming, the capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, and Mandalay in Myanmar has officially resumed as of Sunday, following a three-month suspension caused by a devastating earthquake.
China Eastern Airlines’ Yunnan branch confirmed the restoration of this key international route, which was halted after a powerful 7.9-magnitude earthquake on 28 March severely damaged Mandalay airport infrastructure, forcing a pause in international operations.
The Kunming-Mandalay route, operated with Boeing 737 aircraft under flight numbers MU2029 and MU2030, will maintain its original schedule, offering four round-trip flights per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
With repairs completed at Mandalay airport and international flights reinstated, China Eastern Airlines has resumed the service to meet growing passenger demand. The airline stated that the restored flights are expected to play a significant role in facilitating bilateral trade, cultural exchange, and post-disaster reconstruction cooperation between China and Myanmar.
The resumption is also seen as a step forward in enhancing Yunnan Province’s connectivity with Southeast Asia — a region of growing economic significance to China.
According to official data, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) remained China’s largest trading partner in the first five months of 2025. Trade between China and ASEAN nations totaled 3.02 trillion yuan (approximately 422 billion U.S. dollars), marking a 9.1 percent increase year on year.
The restored Kunming-Mandalay air link is expected to contribute to this upward trend, promoting regional integration and supporting recovery efforts in Myanmar.
Source: Xinhua News