The approach to runway 21 of Yangon International
Airport in April 2004. (photo, M Radzi Desa)

Airports and Airfields

Bhamo (ICAO code: VBBM/VYBM, IATA code: BMO)
Also called Banmaw, Bhamo Airport is located in the north east of the country, close to the Chinese border. It is south of Myitkyina. It is currently in civilian use.
Runway data: Rwy 15/33, Size: 5502 x 102 ft (1677 x 31 m), Elev: 370 ft (113 m), Location: 097° 14' 46.15" E, 24° 16' 08.52" N.

Hmawbi (ICAO code: VYHB)
Officially designated No. 501 Air Base, Hmawbi AFB. Hmawbi (or Hmawby) is located just 26 miles (42 km) north of the captial Yangon (Rangoon). It is a former RAF base. Hwambi is currently a fighter base for the air force.
Runway data: Rwy ?/?, Size: 5000 x ? fr, Elev: ? ft, Location: 096° 04' E, 17° 07' N.

Keng Tung (IATA code: VBKG/VYKG, IATA code: KET)
Kengtung is located in the far east of the country, towards the Vietnam border. Date of construction not known. It is in current civil use. The military portion, Keng Tung AFB is home to the main air force helicopter squadron.
Runway data: Rwy 12/30, Size: 7815 x 75 ft (2382 x 23 m), Elev: 2798 ft (853 m), Location: 099° 38' 09.59" E, 21° 18' 05.80" N

Lashio (ICAO code: VBLS/VYLS, IATA code: LSH)
Lashio Airport is located in the east of the coutnry, towards the Chinese border. It is north east of Mandalay. It is still used by civilian aircraft.
Runway data: Rwy 01/19, Size: 5285 x 95 ft (1611 x 29 m), Elev: 2450 ft (747 m), Location: 097° 45' 07.86" E, 22° 58' 40.37" N

Magwe (ICAO code: VYMW, IATA code: MWQ)
Magwe (or Magway) Airport is located in the west of the country, on the Irrawaddy River, south west of Mandalay. Date of construction not known. It is currently in civilian use.
Runway data: Rwy 16/34, Size: 4800 x 102 ft (1463 x 31 m), Elev: 275 ft (84 m), Location: 94° 56' 29" E, 20° 9' 56".

Mandalay (ICAO Code: VBRM/VYRM or VYMD, IATA code: MDL)
Mandalay International Airport (Annisaton Airport) is located in the centre of the country, in the Irrawaddy Valley. Date of construction not known. It is still used by civilian aircraft.
Runway data: Rwy 17/35, Size: 14003 x 200 ft (4268 x 61 m), Elev: 300 ft (91 m), Location: 095° 58' 40.54" E, 21° 42' 07.76" N

Manerplaw (ICAO code: ?)
Manerplaw Airport is located in the far east of the country, on the Thailand border. Manerplaw is a key town in the Karen region, and was captured by SLORC forces from Karen rebels in January 1995. During 1997 Chinese engineers assisted in the construction of a military airbase to support continuing operations against Karen rebels in the area. The flat terrain around Manerplaw and the Thai-Burma border area makes it an ideal site for a military air base. During 1997 four small patrol aircraft and six helicopters were based here, with plans for larger aircraft when construction had been completed.
Runway data: No information.

Mawalamyne
See Moulmein below.

Meiktila (ICAO code: VBML/VYML)
Meiktila Airport is located in the centre of the country, south of Mandalay. It is a former RAF airfield. It is in current military use.
Runway data: Rwy 16/34, Size: 5400 x 151 ft (1646 x 46 m), Elev: 698 ft (213 m), Location: 95° 53' 0" E, 20° 53' 0".

Mergui (ICAO code: VBRN/VYRN)
Mergui Airport is located in the centre of the country, east of Tonle Sap lake. Date of construction not known. It is currently in civilian use.
Runway data: Rwy ?/?, Size: ? ft, Elev: 118 ft (36 m), Location: 98° 36' 0" E, 12° 26' 0" N.

Mingaladon (ICAO code: VBRR/VYRR and VYYY, IATA code: RGN)
Mingaladon International Airport, the airport for the capital city of Yangon (Rangoon) is located 12 miles (19 km) to the north of the capital. The military portion is officially designated No. 502 Air Base, Mingaladon AFB. It is currently home to the Transport Squadron, a Liaison Squadron and a detachment from a Fighter Squadron. It is an ex-RAF base. It is in current dual military-civilian use.
Runway data: Rwy 03/21, Size: 8104 x 200 ft (2470 x 61 m), Elev: 109 ft (33 m), Location: 096° 07' 59.60" E, 16° 54' 26.30" N

Moulmein (ICAO Code: VBMM, IATA code: MNU)
Officially designated No. xxx Air Base, Mawalamyne AFB. Moulmein (or Maulmyine) Airport is located in the south east of the country, on the coast of the Gulf of Martaban. It is due east of Yangon (Rangon). Date of construction not known. It is currently in civilian use. The military portion is currently home to a fighter squadron.
Runway data: Rwy 04/22, Size: 5260 x 150 ft (1603 x 46 m), Elev: 52 ft (16 m), Location: 097 39' 38.41" E, 16 26' 41.09" N.

Myitkyina - Pamti (ICAO Code: VBMK/VYMK, IATA code: MYT)
Myitkyina is located in the north east of the country, close to the Chinese border, north of Bhamo. Pamti Airport is located just to the west of the city. Date of construction not known. It is in current civilian use.
Runway data: Rwy 04/22, Size: 6100 x 100 ft (1859 x 30 m), Elev: 475 ft (145 m), Location: 097° 21' 06.91" E , 25° 23' 01.09" N

Myitkyina - West Nampong (ICAO Code: VYNP)
Officially designated No. xxx Air Base, Nampong AFB. Formerly known as Myikyina West. West Nampong Airport is located several miles further to the west of Myitkyina than Pamti. Date of construction not known. It is in current military use and home to a fighter squadron and an attack squadron.
Runway data: Rwy 18/36, Size: 11025 x 190 ft (3360 x 58 m), Elev: 459 ft (140 m), Location: 097° 17' 42.54" E , 25° 21' 15.75" N

Nampong
See Myitkyina above.

Namsang (ICAO Code: VYNS, IATA code: NMS)
Namsang Airport is located on the Shan plateau in the east of the country, south of Lashio. Date of construction not known. It is in current civilian use. The military portion, Namsang AFB, is home to the air force Flying Training School.
Runway data: Rwy 03/21, Size: 12005 x 200 ft (3659 x 61 m), Elev: 3100 ft (945 m), Location: 097° 44' 10.75" E, 20° 53' 24.51" N

Shante (ICAO code: VYST)
Officially designated No. 503 Air Base, Shante AFB. Shante is located near Meiktila in the central region of the country, south of Mandalay. Date of construction not known. It is in current military use. Shante is currently a fighter base for the air force.
Runway data: Rwy 01/19, Size: 8501 x 150 ft (2591 x 46 m), Elev: 630 ft (192 m), Location: 095° 54' 52.19" E , 20° 56' 30.00" N

Sittwe (ICAO Code: VYSW, IATA code: AKY)
Sittwe (or Akyab) Airport is located on the coast of the Bay of Bengal, in the far west of the country, west of Meiktila. Date of construction not known. It is currently in civilian use, although an air force helicopter unit has been based here in the past.
Runway data: Rwy 11/29, Size: 6001 x 151 ft (1829 x 46 m), Elev: 27 ft (8 m), Location: 092° 52' 21.46" E, 20° 07' 57.75" N.

Tavoy (ICAO Code: VBTV/VYTV, IATA code: TVY)
Tavoy (or Dawe) Airport is located half way down the Andaman Sea coastline in southern Myanmar, just to the east of a large pensinsula which juts into the sea. Date of construction not known. It is currently in civil use.
Runway data: Rwy ?/?, Size: 4593 x ? ft (? x ? m), Elev: 84 ft (? m), Location: 98 12' 0" E, 14 06' 0" N.