KUNMING: Malaysia-based low-cost carrier AirAsia will operate more flights linking Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, with other Asian cities as the airline explores more international routes.

AirAsia will launch a daily direct flight between Kunming and Phuket, Thailand starting Feb. 1. Daily direct flights from Kunming to Kuala Lumpur and from Kunming to Bangkok will both increase to 14 times weekly starting Dec. 19 and Jan. 16 respectively.

Kunming is an important market for AirAsia, and the increased flight frequency will help boost the development of outbound tourism and tourist arrivals in Kunming, according to AirAsia.

The company's air routes linking Kunming with other cities have carried a total of nearly one million passengers over the past five years, becoming the largest foreign airline by transport capacity at Kunming Changshui International Airport.