Air tickets in high demand in Sittwe as fighting feared imminent

By Admin 28 Dec 2024

DMG Newsroom
28 December 2024, Sittwe

With military tensions running high in Sittwe Township of late, many residents are trying to get out, leading to an increased demand for flight tickets to Yangon.

At around 8:30 p.m. on Friday, the Myanmar military's Artillery Battalion No. 344 and the Navy bombarded Pauktaw and Ponnagyun townships for 30 minutes.

People rushed to buy air tickets on Saturday out of their concern for safety.

One female Sittwe resident said: "I went to buy air tickets to Yangon this morning, but they said air tickets have been booked until January 20. All the airlines are fully booked. So, I have to wait until January 20."

On Friday, a Sittwe-Yangon ticket cost just over 500,000 kyats, but airfares jumped to 700,000 kyats on Saturday, according to some who have purchased flights.

Residents are on edge as the Arakkha Army (AA) and the regime have shelled each other recently in Sittwe Township.

Moreover, the junta has been conducting airstrikes on villages on the border of Sittwe and neighbouring townships, as well as increasingly shelling Pauktaw Township, said residents.

"I flew to Yangon on December 25. Three flights operated that day and all of them were full. I heard that tickets for upcoming flights have also sold out," said a woman who successfully fled Sittwe for Myanmar's commercial capital and largest city.

On Friday morning, the AA fired at least five artillery shells at a temporary junta checkpoint near Kyarmathauk Village in Sittwe Township, resulting in clashes with the regime.

Locals also reported hearing gunfire from Police Battalion No. 12 at around 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Another woman from Sittwe said: "I saw fireballs from artillery shelling last night. We hid below our house after packing my belongings. I also heard gunfire from Police Battalion No. 12."

Since June, many Sittwe residents have fled to AA-controlled areas, while others have opted to make their way to Yangon by flight as the regime has imposed restrictions on road and water transport. Meanwhile, those who cannot afford to flee remain in Sittwe.