12 April 2026 – Airfares for travel out of Kalay town in Sagaing Region have surged to unprecedented levels, with tickets now costing between 400,000 and over 750,000 Kyats, according to a report from MMT ticketing services.
The ongoing conflict has made air travel the primary mode of transport for residents traveling to major cities like Yangon and Mandalay due to road insecurity.
The price surge is significant, considering the Kalay to Yangon route typically cost less than 150,000 Kyats before the 2021 coup. The Yangon-Kalay route is currently the most expensive sector, with one-way fares reaching as high as 771,500 Kyats.
Current price points for one-way tickets include:
- Yangon-Kalay: Up to 771,500 Kyats (The reverse trip, Kalay to Yangon, ranges from 730,000 to 761,500 Kyats).
- Kalay-Mandalay: Between 565,000 and 592,500 Kyats.
- Kalay-Monywa: Approximately 408,000 Kyats.
Myanmar Airways International (MAI) maintains the highest fares for most destinations, while Myanmar National Airlines (MNA) and Air Thanlwin (ATL) offer more economical and comparable options, respectively.
Fares are noted to be subject to change based on booking dates and seat availability.
Due to soaring fuel costs, some stations in Kalay township are now restricting motorbike petrol purchases to 10,000 kyats per customer, with reports indicating prices have climbed above 8,000 kyats per litre.
Kalay, located in the Sagaing Region, functions as a crucial logistical hub for the State Security and Peace Commission (SSPC) as they deploy military forces toward Chin State and the bordering areas of Magway and Sagaing Regions.
Additionally, residents in Kalay and throughout Sagaing have frequently reported targeted home raids and arbitrary abductions of local youths for the junta’s military conscription in recent months. – Reporting by Daniel
