All flights from Loikaw Airport have been temporarily suspended, locals said. Only Myanmar National Airlines (MNA) and Air KBZ airlines fly to Loikaw. Air KBZ has cancelled flights on January 4th, 6th and 8th due to security reasons, and said it will resume flights on the 9th.

There are Air KBZ flights to Loikaw on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday every week. A Loikaw resident commented that the flights may have been suspended due to a rocket being fired at Loikaw Airport on January 3rd.

“ We heard that a rocket was fired at the airport and a police guard was also shot at. Due to these incidents, the security measures were tightened, and many were arrested. I cannot say whether the detainees were released or not”, he said.

Since the New Year period, Loikaw has been under strict surveillance and many arrests have been made, locals said. It is not known exactly why the Military Council has increased security measures, but there is speculation that this is motivated by forthcoming celebration of Kayah State Day celebration to be held on January 15th.

On September 30th last year, an MNA flight flying from Yangon to Loikaw was shot at while landing at the airport, and the airline suspended its flights. But Air KBZ continued to run flights.  Locals also said that a rocket exploded near Loikaw Airport on December 11th.