Airlines, public asked to respect rules during Loy Krathong
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Chiang Mai International Airport will advise local airlines to tighten safety measures concerning floating lanterns during the Loy Krathong Festival in November, Airport director Rawiwan Netrakawessana said Tuesday.
The Loy Krathong Festival in this northern province, which this year takes place between November 27 and 29, is well known domestically and internationally and the release of floating lanterns into the night sky is one of the traditional forms of celebration.
Rawiwan said the recommendation is for airlines to adjust their timetables for fear that if the lanterns were to be sucked into the planes’ engines, they could cause damage.
The airport has also asked cooperation from people to release the lanterns after 9.30pm, she said, adding the lanterns should not contain inflammable materials.
The local airlines; Thai International Airways, Bangkok Airways and Nok Air, have complied with the airport authority’s concerns by adjusting their timetable for their flights to finish before 6.30pm during the festival.
However, some international airlines have flights that land in Chiang Mai after 9.30pm, and these timetables could not be adjusted.
The airport has therefore prepared the safety measures to ensure safety for them.
