Workers outside the airport are asking for previously unheard of fees, particularly regarding baggage. 

Travelers say that they are being asked to pay extra fees at airports in Shan State, and that the funds are not official. 

Sai Yawd, who traveled from Lashio to Tachileik, said that workers outside the airport have been asking for previously unheard of fees, particularly regarding baggage. 

“I had to pay 1,000 kyat per bag of luggage at the Lashio airport. In addition, I had to pay 1,000 kyat for a security scan sticker and another 1,000 for a luggage carrier,” Sai Yawd told SHAN. 

Even though the amounts are relatively small, he pointed out that there are no regulations which require these services to be paid for. 

“We started to pay when we took back our luggage from the luggage belt in the airport. Even if we have a small bag, we have to pay for it. What I understand is that we will have to pay extra money for extra weight at an international airport. In airports in Shan state, we have to pay for every bag,” another traveler, Nang Mya, told SHAN.  “I don’t know whether the authorities are intentionally turning a blind eye to this, but I want them to take action against it.” 

Travelers in the airports say that if the collection of these fees is official, then the authorities must announce it officially. 

Nang Cherry, who sells airplane tickets, said that demanding such fees is prohibited, but that no one has tried to crack down on the practice yet. 

“Airport tax is already included in the ticket fee. No one needs to pay any extra fees,” she explained.