151 flights postponed or canceled for sky lantern festival in Chiang Mai

Praphorn Praphornkul

 

 

CHIANG MAI(NNT) - The annual Loy Krathong festival will take place on November 11th, while the Yi Peng Festival in Chiang Mai province will be celebrated between November 10 and 12. As many revelers launch floating lanterns into the night sky during this festive period, Chiang Mai International Airport has issued an announcement on flight cancellations and schedule changes for safety reasons.

 

The Deputy Director of Chiang Mai International Airport, Flg. Off. Thananrat Prasertsri, said the airport has asked government agencies, private firms and local administrative organizations for cooperation by following Section 33 of the Thailand Air Navigation Act and the safety guidelines regarding the launch of floating lanterns during the Loy Krathong festival. People are not allowed to play with fireworks and launch floating lanterns or similar objects near the airport because they may interfere with the aircraft navigation.

 

Flg. Off. Thananrat said a total of 151 flights have been rescheduled or canceled. Sixty-six domestic flights and 30 international flights have been canceled, and 41 domestic and 14 international flights have been rescheduled. Passengers will not be unduly inconvenienced as flight operators have notified them in advance about the situation.

 

According to a survey, conducted by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce’s (UTCC) Center for Economic and Business Forecasting, consumer spending will be less active during the Loy Krathong festival for the second consecutive year. Spending is expected to decrease from 9.69 billion baht to 9.57 billion baht, down by 1.3%, due to cautious sentiments over the global economy.

 

The survey also showed that 62.5% of the respondents still plan to float their krathong baskets this year to preserve the traditional way of life.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2019-11-09

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In the middle of a drought no less.......tradition is killing this Nation....Brainless in Thailand....

Where else in the world would aviation authorities allow 151 International and domestic flights to be disrupted or cancelled so a load of locals can indulge in an activity that is by International aviation law, illegal ?   NOWHERE !!  

To me this is further evidence of a decline in tourism in Thailand.  Flights being rescheduled, consumer spending on the decrease.  When will the Thai Authorities wake up and address the strong baht, which so many (few?) hi-sos are benefiting from?

Why did the airlines not cancel or re-schedule the flights months ago, instead of letting passengers book and then being disrupted. They know when this silly tradition takes place.

38 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

Why did the airlines not cancel or re-schedule the flights months ago, instead of letting passengers book and then being disrupted. They know when this silly tradition takes place.

How should they have known this in advance? That's similar to flooding, drought, or the burning, just impossible to forecast, it's not as if this happens every year.

3 minutes ago, jackdd said:

How should they have known this in advance? That's similar to flooding, drought, or the burning, just impossible to forecast, it's not as if this happens every year.

Because Loy Krathong is always on the full moon in November. And yes, it does happen every year.

And if you read the OP

 

"Passengers will not be unduly inconvenienced as flight operators have notified them in advance about the situation."

1 minute ago, Samuel Smith said:

And if you read the OP

 

"Passengers will not be unduly inconvenienced as flight operators have notified them in advance about the situation."

I wonder how far in advance? 

These lanterns pose a danger to aircraft. In the real world the lanterns would be banned, but in Thailand they ban the flights instead and inconvenience many hundreds of people instead. Probably because they know, as with everything else in Thailand, the locals would take absolutely no notice whatsoever of any official directive, knowing there would be no enforcement or consequences to them.

One can only laugh!!! Thailand DOES strive to amaze.  

 

10 hours ago, rooster59 said:

"Passengers will not be unduly inconvenienced as flight operators have notified them in advance about the situation."

How can a substantial number of passengers not be significantly inconvenienced with 151 flights affected? I guess certain officials are ordered to say these types of things, even though everyone knows how ridiculous they sound. 

I thought that the lanterns had been banned nationally a couple of years ago!?!

8 hours ago, SunsetT said:

I thought that the lanterns had been banned nationally a couple of years ago!?!

They had, as was riding in the back of a pick-up!

151 cancelled or rescheduled flights.  Assuming 150 persons per flight means approximately 22,000 passengers inconvenienced so a few traditionalists can launch a flaming object into the skies.  This should certainly enhance the tourism numbers!