Chiang Mai Airport is preparing for the 2026 Yi Peng Festival, having already canceled 108 flights and rescheduled 80 more to avoid sky lantern hazards, advising travelers to allow extra time for their journeys to the airport.
On 3 November 2026, Group Captain Sakorn Udol, Director of Chiang Mai Airport, announced that during the Yi Peng and Loy Krathong festivals in Chiang Mai province on 24–25 November 2026, it is expected that over 200,000 sky and smoke lanterns will be released within the airport’s aviation safety zone (data as of 30 October 2026). Therefore, Chiang Mai province requests airlines to avoid flights during lantern release periods: on 24 November from 10:00 to 12:00 and on 24–25 November from 19:00 to 01:00 the next day.
These flight schedule adjustments reduce Chiang Mai Airport’s operational hours from about 20 hours per day to around 12 hours per day. During the festival, there are on average about 210 flights daily, possibly peaking at 232 flights, a roughly 10% increase over normal days. Coordination with airlines as of 30 October 2026 shows that between 21–28 November, flight schedules have been adjusted to avoid lantern impacts, resulting in 108 flight cancellations, 80 time changes, and 105 special flights added. This may cause flight clustering at certain times and increased passenger volume inside the terminal.
Regarding safety, Chiang Mai Airport has issued warnings to pilots and air operators about the timing of sky and smoke lantern releases, increasing the frequency of airspace surveillance to monitor lanterns and foreign objects entering airport areas. The airport is also coordinating with Chiang Mai province, districts, and related agencies to publicize measures and seek community cooperation, and has held meetings with airport operational units to prepare safety and service readiness during the Yi Peng festival.
The airport director emphasized that the Yi Peng tradition is a cultural hallmark of Chiang Mai province with a long heritage. However, preserving this tradition must also consider public safety, especially regarding sky lanterns. If lanterns enter flight paths or nearby airport areas, they may pose dangers to aircraft and engines, as well as disrupt flight operations.
Chiang Mai Airport therefore urges the public and event organizers to study and strictly follow Chiang Mai provincial announcements concerning approved areas, dates, and times for lantern releases—especially Level 1 special surveillance zones or red zones, which are aircraft takeoff and landing corridors where lantern release is absolutely prohibited—to ensure that the beautiful Lanna tradition continues safely alongside aviation safety.
To facilitate incoming passengers, the airport has prepared public transportation and passenger pickup services expecting increased demand during this period. Services include Airport Limousine, Airport Taxi Meter, Airport Shuttle Bus, and RTC City Bus offering approximately 1,280 trips daily, plus about 2,500 Grab vehicles available daily and nine car rental operators. The airport coordinates all transport providers to ease passenger movement, allocates check-in counters according to flight and passenger volumes, increases security checkpoints for passengers and luggage, and promotes online check-in, self-service kiosks, and automated baggage handling to reduce waiting times.
Given the limited flight operation hours and potential clustering of flights during the festival, Chiang Mai Airport requests passengers traveling between 21–28 November to plan ahead, check flight schedules and status with airlines before departure, and allow at least 2 hours for domestic flights and 3 hours for international flights before departure. Passengers should also familiarize themselves with regulations on carrying liquids, gels, and sprays, as well as prohibited items in carry-on and checked baggage, to streamline security checks and comply with aviation safety standards.