Air ticket prices skyrocket in Arakan State

By Admin 28 Sep 2024

DMG Newsroom
28 September 2024, Sittwe

Myanmar's military regime has blocked off land and water routes to conflict-torn Arakan State since renewed hostilities between its forces and the Arakkha Army (AA) began in November of last year, effectively only allowing air routes to Myanmar's westernmost state since then. Even then, Sittwe and Kyaukphyu are the only two routes in Arakan State that can be accessed commercially by air.

Air ticket prices are rising dramatically as Arakan State residents leave for mainland Myanmar due to the conflict. Prior to the military coup, a ticket from Sittwe to Yangon typically sold for less than K100,000, while one-way airfares now go for around K450,000 to K500,000.

A ticket from Yangon to Sittwe, meanwhile, now costs around K295,000.

"Military tension is running high in Sittwe. People rely on air routes if fighting breaks out in Sittwe. People have to travel only by air, so the ticket price has increased exponentially," said a local man in Sittwe.

Before the military coup, airlines operated regular flights to Sittwe, Thandwe, Kyaukphyu, Ann and Manaung in Arakan State, but currently there are only two flights, Sittwe-Yangon and Kyaukphyu-Yangon.

Currently, a ticket from Kyaukphyu to Yangon costs more than K400,000.

"Air ticket prices are rising. More people go from Arakan State to mainland Myanmar than to Arakan State. There are differences in air ticket prices," said an air ticket sales agent.

Due to the junta blockades, air transport is also relied upon to move some goods into and out of Arakan State.

"If we want to order something, we have to rely on air due to the junta blockades since renewed hostilities began on November 13," said a local woman in Kyaukphyu.