Thai Airways Suspends Northern Flights During Loy Krathong

28th Nov 2012

Loy Krathong is a festival of light held annually in all of Thailand and some parts of neighboring Laos and Myanmar. It is held on a full moon of the 12th month of the traditional Thai lunar calendar. The festival is celebrated all throughout the country on the evening where people release thousands of lanterns into the sky and float miniature lighted vessels on either a canal, river or lake.

Some people use either a candle or fuel cell attached inside the lantern which is made of thin fabric or rice paper. When the candle or fuel cell is lit, the trapped heat inside the lantern lifts the lantern up to the air, resembling a large mass of giant jellyfish cruising above the sky. The tradition of flying lit lanterns or floating lighted vessels is meant to let go of ill feelings inside the person's heart who releases it, while some believe it wards off bad luck.

This year's festival is celebrated on the 27th up to the 29th of November.

Thai Airways President, Sorajak Kasemsuwan, announced earlier that some THAI flights to the north are suspended while some are rescheduled during the festivities. Affected flights include the Bangkok-Chiang Mai-Bangkok and Bangkok-Chiang Rai-Bangkok sectors which are now suspended.

The suspension of THAI flights to these routes is a way of precautionary measure to avoid the possibility of lanterns getting sucked into the engines of the aircraft while airborne near the airports as the planes touch down or take off.

Related News

Bangkok Airways to Resurrect Vital Flight Routes to Northern Thailand

Thai Vietjet Air: Exclusive May Offers for FUN Rewards Members

Hua Hin Airport anticipates surge in international flights after expansion

No more flights to Mae Hong Son

Related Travel Guide Articles

Chiang Mai's Food Odyssey: Street Eats to Gourmet Feasts

6 Steps to Grabbing Cheap Flights - DomesticFlightsThailand

Getting Around Bangkok