How to travel by air in Myanmar

The taxi stops in a dirt lot filled with mini vans and buses. Could this be the airport? He jumps out and begins to unload our bags from the trunk. Pointing us in the direction of a small basic building opposite the lot he climbed back into the drivers seat as was off. Following his directions we pulled our packs onto our back and began weaving and dodging the madness of traffic and people which was between ourselves and the building we thought must be the airport.

Inside the open doors large western tour groups were massed. The far end of the room is occupied with a few desks for a couple of airlines, immigration (for domestic flights) and the security check point. I laugh as I make my way to the Air Bagan desk realising this seems more like a bus station than airport. We are handed cardboard tickets with our destination Keng Tung written in permanent marker and directed to immigration.
Within five minutes we have checked in, passed immigration and security to enter a standard bus terminal waiting room. Just this time it was an airport with doors wide open to the tarmac for ventilation. Flights are being called by staff who hold up a sign for each airline with the flight number written on it. I sit and watch flights land and take off. Most planes barely being on the tarmac 20 minutes before it is back in the air.

Air Bagan runs similar to a bus service stopping at different airports throughout Myanmar. Unable to disembark until you reach the destination immigration wrote you are getting off at. This bus like service resulted us having one stop on the way to Keng Tung. This stop lasted all of 15 minutes before we continued for a short 20 minute flight to our final destination.

The staff were all friendly and informative about the process of the flight. We received a complimentary drink and snack after each take off.

My backpack did not fit in overhead compartments due to small regional plane however staff were more than happy for it to be stored under the seat in front of me.

Air Bagan are also very strict on use of electrical devices and we were unable to use any devices whilst in the air even with flight mode switched on. As it was a short flight this wasn’t too much of a burden and window gazing filled the time perfectly.