SINGAPORE (AFP) - SilkAir, the regional unit of Singapore Airlines, said on Tuesday it planned to fly to two new destinations in India, saying they offered strong growth opportunities.

Subject to regulatory approvals, the full-service regional carrier will launch daily flights to Bangalore from May 17 and to Chennai starting June 14 from its home base in Singapore.

The Singapore carrier said the cities' economic growth offered prospects for business and cargo traffic, while historical and cultural attractions would offer tourism and leisure traffic, SilkAir said.

'SilkAir is very excited to introduce services to these two cities in India,' said chief executive Chin Yau Seng. 'We see good prospects for growth in air traffic to and from India, and are pleased to strengthen our presence in India with the addition of these two new points,' he said in a statement.

Currently, SilkAir flies to four destinations in India and they are Kochi, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram and Coimbatore.

It is the regional wing of Singapore Airlines and it flies to 31 destinations across 11 Asian countries.