Flights cancelled over floating lantern fears
NEARLY 100 domestic and international flights to Chiang Mai International Airport have been cancelled or postponed between November 24 and 26 over fears of passenger safety due the sky being littered with floating lanterns from the Loy Krathong Festival.
The same concerns have seen flights cancelled or rescheduled at Chiang Rai’s Mae Fah Luang Airport after 8pm on November 25.
Chiang Mai Airport director Group Captain Wisoot Chantana said yesterday the province had informed airlines about a regulation issued recently that prohibits people from releasing floating lanterns in Muang, Saraphi, Hang Dong, Mae Rim and San Sai districts, except for 10am to noon and after 9pm on November 25.
He said airport officials were instructed to check and clear runways 10 times a day between November 24-26.
As of Monday, airlines had cancelled 62 flights covering 9,300 passengers during the period, he said.
They included 36 Thai AirAsia flights, six Lion Air flights and eight Bangkok Airways flights. Twenty-one domestic flights made adjustments to their schedules, he added.
Twelve international flights covering 1,800 passengers were also cancelled including six Thai AirAsia flights, two Sichuan Airlines flights, two Air China flights, and two Juneyao Airlines flights. Some 20 international airlines adjusted flight schedules.
Mae Fah Luang Airport director Ittipol Boonaree said Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, and Bangkok Airways had cancelled their flights after 8pm on November 25 while Lion Air changed its scheduled departure from 8.20pm to 5.10pm.