Airlines halt ticket sales amid aviation fuel shortage in Myanmar

Following the halt of all ticket sales for domestic flights on Friday, Myanmar Airways International (MAI) announced Sunday that it has also reduced the baggage allowance from 30 to 20 kg per passenger in economy class, from 40 to 30 kg per passenger in business class, and from 14 to 7 kg for carry-on bags in business class for international flights until further notice.

This is due to a shortage of aviation fuel, according to the MAI announcement on March 22. Sources in the airline industry told DVB that customers will be either reimbursed or allowed to change their itineraries. A travel agent told DVB on March 21 that MAI will begin selling domestic flight tickets again on March 24, adding that her travel company had to reimburse 10 million MMK ($2,380 USD) to customers.

The agent also told DVB that Air Thanlwin and Mann Yadanarbon airlines also stopped selling tickets for domestic flights on March 20 until further notice. Highway bus operators at Yangon’s Aung Mingalar Bus Terminal told DVB that fares for the Yangon-Naypyidaw and Yangon-Mandalay routes increased from 25,000 to 45,000 MMK ($5.9-10.7 USD) and 35,000 to 65,000 MMK ($8.30-15 USD) over the last week.

“We heard rumors that the fuel shortage will only get worse,” a bus ticket seller at the Aung Mingalar Bus Terminal told DVB on the condition of anonymity. An unspecified number of bus companies have reportedly guaranteed to reimburse advance ticket purchases if travel is cancelled due to fuel shortages.

Petrol station owners told DVB that prices for one liter of 92-octane gasoline rose from 2,830 to 3,610 MMK ($0.6-0.8 USD), 95-octane gasoline from 2,930 to 3,850 MMK ($0.60-0.90 USD), diesel from 3,205 to 4,390 MMK ($0.70-1 USD) and premium diesel from 3,560 to 4,820 MMK ($0.80-1.1 USD) since March 13.

Vehicle owners in Yangon, Mandalay, Naypyidaw and the Shan State capital Taunggyi told DVB that the regime’s Ministry of Energy new quick response (QR) code for drivers to purchase petrol, which took effect on March 12, has turned many to the black market to make fuel purchases.

New fuel rationing measures, implemented by the regime, stipulate that all registered vehicles may refuel once every 24 hours. The regime announced on March 4 that Myanmar has a 40-day fuel reserve and will not face shortages despite disruptions to the global energy supply chain caused by the war in the ​Middle East.