AEROTHAI tightens northern air traffic control amid PM2.5 crisis
AEROTHAI says flights in Thailand’s upper North remain safe despite worsening haze and PM2.5, while air traffic measures are stepped up to support relief operations.
Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (AEROTHAI) has stepped up air traffic management in response to haze and PM2.5 pollution in Thailand’s upper North, in line with the Transport Ministry’s policy, while insisting that flights remain safe. The agency is also supporting aerial operations aimed at reducing haze and fine dust in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Tak and Mae Hong Son.
Surachai Nuprom, executive vice-president and acting president of AEROTHAI, said the haze and PM2.5 situation covering Chiang Mai and other provinces in the upper North had reduced aviation visibility, but conditions remained within safety standards and aircraft could still take off and land safely. He said the overall provision of flight services had not been affected. Visibility had fallen to a low of just 1,200 metres, while the daily average remained around 6-7 kilometres, still above the minimum requirement for landings using an Instrument Landing System (ILS) Category 1, which requires visibility of no less than 800 metres.
AEROTHAI said it had been closely monitoring the situation and had prepared contingency measures in case visibility dropped below the standard threshold. These include air traffic management planning and coordination of service readiness in the event of requests to divert flights to alternate airports.
The agency has also been supporting operations by the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, which has been carrying out weather modification flights to help ease haze and PM2.5 pollution in the upper North since April 3, 2026. The operations cover Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Tak and Mae Hong Son.
In addition, AEROTHAI has been assisting relevant state agencies in supporting survey flights and operations to control wildfires, a major cause of haze in the region.
The agency said it had continuously supported cross-sector efforts to tackle PM2.5, alongside government and Transport Ministry policies aimed at improving people’s quality of life and promoting environmentally friendly and sustainable development, while maintaining maximum safety for passengers and the public.
