Distance Education Students Stranded as Myitkyina-Putao Road Remains Closed and Flights Fully Booked

Pajau Media

November 7.2025

After the closure of the Myitkyina-Putao road, distance education students have been struggling to return home as flight tickets have become difficult to obtain, according to university students.

“Most of the distance students from Putao are now stranded because the road is closed. It’s also impossible to buy flight tickets, they said all seats are fully booked until the end of November. It’s easy to travel down from Putao, but very hard to get flight seats to go back. Last month, travel restrictions were already imposed, and now even highway bus routes are completely shut down,” said a distance education student traveling from Myitkyina to Putao.

Before the road closure, young people especially students and those under 45 had already been restricted from traveling along the highway, leaving air travel as their only option. However, airfares have now risen to nearly 100,000 kyats, making it even more difficult for students, the source said.

“A ticket used to cost about 45,000 kyats, but now it’s over 50,000. The road was closed right after the exams ended, so many people are stuck because they can’t get flight tickets,” the student added.

Since the Myitkyina-Putao road was closed on October 23, ticket prices have surged, and purchasing tickets has become difficult. Flights are reportedly fully booked until the end of November, leaving distance education students unable to travel.

This month is also a peak travel period for distance education students and coincides with the rice harvest season in Putao, leading to increased passenger demand. As a result, airlines have reported that all seats are fully booked until late November.

News: Mali Hku