The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
Planning a Thailand trip? 108 flights cancelled as Chiang Mai prepares for massive lantern festival
you save up for months, pack your bags for a dream trip to Thailand, and then get a notification saying your flight is grounded... because two hundred thousand paper lanterns are taking over the night sky.
Chiang Mai International Airport has announced a surge of disruption as the Yi Peng and Loy Krathong festivals approach, with 108 flights cancelled and 80 others reshuffled on eight festival days.
Officials say the cause is the expected release of up to 200,000 sky lanterns within the airport’s safety zone, creating significant aviation hazards for take-off and landing corridors. The lanterns and associated debris are shaping a temporary, festival-driven air-traffic challenge.
The operational restrictions are in place from November 21 through November 28, with the heaviest lantern releases anticipated on November 24 and 25. Air traffic guidance includes specific blackout periods that will affect the normal 20-hour daily operating window.
To mitigate disruption and manage passenger volumes, airlines are adding 105 extra flights outside the peak lantern windows. Despite the restrictions, the airport foresees an average of about 210 flights per day during the period, with peaking days potentially reaching around 232 movements.
Local authorities are coordinating with police and provincial and district offices to enforce safety perimeters and conduct regular airfield sweeps for lantern remnants. Travelers are advised to verify flight status, use online check-in where possible, and arrive earlier than usual to accommodate the phased operations and potential queues.