Chiang Mai International Airport in northern Thailand will significantly reduce its operating hours later this month as more than 200,000 sky lanterns are expected to be released during the annual Yi Peng festival, raising concerns about their potential impact on aircraft.
The airport will reduce its daily flight operating window from around 20 hours to 12 during the Yi Peng and Loy Krathong celebrations on 24-25 November.
The changes have already resulted in airlines cancelling 108 flights and rescheduling another 80 between 21-28 November.
A further 105 special flights have been added over the same period.
Yi Peng is a centuries-old festival rooted in the traditions of northern Thailand’s Lanna people, celebrated each year around the full moon of the 12th lunar month. Its defining ritual is the release of khom loy, or paper sky lanterns, which are lit before being sent drifting into the night.
The practice has Buddhist significance, with the lanterns traditionally offered in homage to the Buddha and believed to carry prayers towards the heavens. Their release is also seen as a symbolic gesture of letting go of misfortune and making a fresh start.
The festival takes place alongside Loy Krathong, when people set small decorated floats adrift on rivers and waterways as offerings.
The airport’s concern isn’t simply that the ceremonial lanterns might drift over the airport. They could end up in aircraft flight paths, where they pose a risk to planes and their engines.
Chiang Mai airport director Group Captain Sakan Udol said more than 200,000 sky lanterns and smoke lanterns were expected within the airport’s aviation safety zone.
The restrictions will leave airlines with a narrower window in which to operate.
Flights have been asked to avoid the skies between 10am and noon on 24 November 24, and from 7pm until 1am the following morning on both festival days.
With the festival also expected to draw additional visitors, the airport is anticipating an average of 210 flights a day, rising to as many as 232 on busier days.
Earlier this year in July, Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority warned that sky lanterns can drift unpredictably in both direction and height, potentially entering areas used by aircraft. Their presence near an airport can also distract pilots.
Airport officials have issued warnings to pilots and increased inspections of airside areas to look for lanterns and other foreign objects. Residents and event organisers have also been urged to follow Chiang Mai province’s rules on where releases are permitted.
Lanterns are strictly prohibited in designated red zones along aircraft take-off and landing routes.
For travellers, the compressed flight schedule could mean a busier airport than usual.
Chiang Mai International Airport has arranged around 1,280 daily trips through public transport services, including taxis and shuttle buses, and expects about 2,500 vehicles operated by Grab, a popular ride-hailing app in Southeast Asia, to be available each day.
It is also preparing additional security screening points and encouraging passengers to check in online or use self-service kiosks to reduce queues.
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