Chiang Mai Yi Peng Festival preparations have forced airlines to cancel 108 flights and reschedule another 80 at Chiang Mai International Airport as northern Thailand prepares for the release of more than 200,000 sky lanterns between November 21 and 28.
The changes are intended to reduce the risk of lanterns interfering with aircraft during one of Thailand’s best-known cultural celebrations. Airlines are also adding 105 special flights over the eight-day period to accommodate passenger demand, according to Khaosod English, which cited Group Captain Sakan Udon, head of Chiang Mai International Airport.
The flight adjustments follow a request from Chiang Mai Province for airlines to avoid operating during designated lantern-release periods. These restrictions cover 10 a.m. to noon on November 24, as well as 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. on the nights of November 24 and 25.
Provincial regulations also set specific conditions for this year’s celebrations. Sky lanterns and fireworks are permitted only between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m. on November 24 and 25, while smoke lanterns may be released only between 10 a.m. and noon on November 24, Chiang Mai News reported.
Organisers and participants must also follow rules governing the lanterns themselves. Sky lanterns must meet government safety standards and remain airborne for no longer than seven minutes. Authorities have introduced these restrictions to reduce the potential danger to aircraft operating in and around the city.
The revised flight schedule significantly reduces the airport’s daily operating window. Instead of its usual approximately 20 hours, the airport will operate for around 12 hours during the restricted periods.
Despite the shorter operating hours, Chiang Mai International Airport expects to handle an average of approximately 210 flights per day during the festival, with the busiest day potentially reaching 232 flights. This represents an increase of around 10 per cent compared with normal daily traffic.
Concentrating so many flights into fewer operating hours could also create congestion inside the passenger terminal, particularly during busy departure and arrival periods. The airport has therefore advised passengers travelling during the festival to confirm their flight times directly with their airlines and leave additional time for their journeys.
Safety measures are also being strengthened around the airport. Pilots have received notices outlining the permitted lantern-release times, while airport teams are carrying out more frequent inspections of the airfield to check for fallen lanterns and other debris.
According to Sakan, lanterns that drift towards aircraft flight paths or the airport could pose a serious aviation safety risk, particularly if they come into contact with aircraft engines. He has urged residents, visitors and event organisers to respect the provincial restrictions and avoid releasing lanterns in prohibited areas.
One of the strictest restrictions applies to the designated red zone around the airport’s takeoff and landing paths, where lantern releases are completely prohibited. In 2025, the restricted area covered parts of six districts, including the entirety of Mueang Chiang Mai and Hang Dong. According to The Thaiger, anyone violating the restrictions faced penalties of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to 200,000 baht (approximately US$5,930), or both.
The disruption is not new for the airport. During last year’s Yi Peng celebrations on November 5 and 6, airlines canceled 65 flights and rescheduled another 96. The number of cancellations planned for this year’s festival is considerably higher, reflecting the scale of the expected celebrations and the need to coordinate air traffic around the permitted release periods.
Yi Peng is a traditional Lanna festival celebrated in northern Thailand, particularly in Chiang Mai. It takes place alongside Loy Krathong, another Thai festival during which people traditionally float decorated baskets on rivers and waterways. Yi Peng is especially recognised for its illuminated sky lanterns, which create striking displays above the city and attract visitors from across Thailand and overseas.
For Chiang Mai, the celebrations bring significant visitor interest, but the large-scale release of lanterns also presents practical challenges for aviation authorities. This year’s arrangements show how the airport and provincial authorities are attempting to accommodate the festival while keeping aircraft movements within safe operating conditions.
