Air ticket prices to Manaung soar to more than double official rate

By Admin 02 May 2026

DMG Newsroom

2 May 2026, Manaung

Air ticket prices for flights between Manaung and Yangon have risen to more than twice the official rate, according to local residents.

Although the official ticket price for the Yangon to Manaung route is set at K630,000, tickets are currently being sold for up to K1.5 million.

“Right now, traveling from Manaung to Yangon costs around K1.5 million. From Yangon to Manaung, it is about K800,000. The official price and the actual situation are very different,” said a resident of Manaung.

Flight services to Manaung were suspended after the 2021 military coup and resumed on April 24 under the leadership of junta chief Min Aung Hlaing.

Flights now operate three times a week, connecting Manaung with Yangon, Kyaukphyu, and Sittwe. Tickets are sold by Myanmar National Airlines and Manaung Public Company.

“Even if you try to book tickets 10 days in advance, they are already sold out. It is very difficult to get one. Due to high demand, sellers are increasing prices with an attitude of ‘take it or leave it’,” another local said.

Although the resumption of flights was intended to ease travel for residents, some locals say it mainly benefits ticket sellers.

The service resumed five months after U Ba Shein, founder of the Rakhine Nationalities Party, promised in November 2025 to arrange flights to Manaung.

There are also criticisms that the expansion of flight services is aimed at supporting military logistics rather than public transportation.

“Whether they care about the people can be seen from the ticket prices. They have never shown goodwill. They continue bombing and killing civilians. These flights mainly serve military purposes,” said a local youth.

Among the three towns in Arakan State still under regime control, active fighting is ongoing in Kyaukphyu and Sittwe, while Manaung has not yet seen clashes.

Arakan Army chief Maj Gen Twan Mrat Naing has said the remaining towns in Arakan State will be fully captured before 2027.