Chiang Mai airport cuts flight hours for November lantern festival

Chiang Mai International Airport will restrict flights during lantern releases on 24 and 25 November, with airlines cancelling 108 services and rescheduling 80 across the surrounding festival period.

The changes cover 21–28 November, when airlines have also confirmed 105 additional flights. The airport is preparing for Yi Peng and Loy Krathong celebrations, with around 200,000 sky lanterns and smoke lanterns expected within its aviation safety zone.

Airport authorities have urged passengers to check their bookings and flight status directly with airlines, as the shorter operating window could concentrate departures, arrivals and passenger queues into busier periods.

When flight restrictions will apply

Flights are to be avoided between 10am and noon on 24 November, and between 7pm and 1am the following morning on both 24 and 25 November. The second evening restriction therefore extends into the early hours of 26 November.

The adjustments follow a request from Chiang Mai provincial authorities for airlines to avoid designated lantern-release periods. The airport says the restrictions will shorten its operating window from the usual approximately 20 hours a day to around 12 hours during the celebrations.

Despite the restrictions, the airport expects an average of about 210 flights a day during the festival, with a possible peak of 232 — approximately 10 per cent above normal daily traffic. The cancellations, retimed services and extra flights cover the full eight-day schedule-adjustment period, rather than only the two main festival dates.

With flights concentrated into fewer hours, airport officials expect possible congestion in the passenger terminal, particularly at peak times.

Lantern safety measures

Yi Peng is a traditional Lanna festival in northern Thailand, known for sky lantern releases that attract Thai and international visitors. This year’s Yi Peng and Loy Krathong celebrations fall on 24–25 November.

The airport’s lantern estimate is based on information available as of 30 October. Officials warn that lanterns entering flight paths or areas near the airport could endanger aircraft and engines and disrupt operations.

The airport has issued notices to pilots and aviation operators about the release periods and is arranging more frequent airfield inspections for fallen lanterns and other foreign objects. It is also coordinating with provincial and district authorities to publicise the rules and secure cooperation from residents and event organisers.

Lantern releases are strictly prohibited in designated red zones along aircraft take-off and landing paths. Elsewhere, organisers and members of the public have been asked to follow the province’s permitted release areas, dates and times.

What passengers should plan for

Passengers travelling between 21 and 28 November should check flight schedules and status with their airline before each journey. The airport advises arriving at least two hours before domestic departures and three hours before international departures.

According to The Nation/Asia News Network, the airport is preparing to allocate check-in counters according to demand and add passenger and baggage screening points. It is also encouraging online check-in, self-service kiosks and self bag drop to reduce waiting times.

For arriving passengers, planned transport provision includes limousine, metered taxi, shuttle bus and RTC City Bus services, offering a combined approximately 1,280 trips daily. The airport also lists about 2,500 Grab vehicles available each day and nine car-hire operators.

The airport says it is coordinating staffing and vehicle availability with transport providers to reduce congestion around arrivals. For travellers, checking the revised flight time before setting out remains the key preparation for the festival’s compressed airport schedule.