Chiang Mai Airport limits flight times on 24 and 25 November for the Yi Peng lantern festival

Chiang Mai Airport in northern Thailand will restrict its flight operating hours on 24 and 25 November 2026 during the Yi Peng and Loy Krathong festivals, because of the risk posed by sky lanterns, according to a notice verified by the Thai government's Anti-Fake News Center with the Chiang Mai Provincial Public Relations Office and published on 9 November.

More than 200,000 floating and smoke lanterns are expected to be released during the festivities. The airport has asked airlines to avoid operating during the restricted time windows, and carriers have already reworked their schedules around the event.

As of 30 October, airlines had changed their programme for the period from 21 to 28 November: 108 flights were cancelled, 80 were retimed and 105 special flights were added. The airport says it has prepared safety measures and assistance for passengers during the festival period.

The notice does not give the exact hours of the restriction, the airlines or flight numbers concerned, or any rebooking terms, and the schedule figures date from 30 October and may have changed since. Anyone flying to or from Chiang Mai in the last week of November, including travellers heading north for the festival itself, should check their flight time with the airline before leaving for the airport.