Chiang Mai Airport expects nearly 10m passengers in 2026

Chiang Mai Airport handled more than 6.53 million passengers in the first eight months of 2026, with international travel rising 14% year-on-year. The airport expects passenger numbers to reach about 9.97 million for the full year as the winter flight schedule begins in late October.

Airport director Karan Thanakuljeerapat said the airport recorded 43,544 flights between January and August. Overall passenger and flight numbers were broadly similar to the same period in 2025, although overseas travel continued to grow.

There were 13,232 international flights, representing 30.39% of all services. International passenger numbers reached about 1.95 million, or 29.83% of the total, with Chinese and South Korean travellers together accounting for more than half of all international passengers.

Winter schedule brings back overseas routes

Chiang Mai Airport expects both flight and passenger numbers to increase during the tourism high season and the winter timetable, which starts towards the end of October.

Five airlines will operate six routes during the winter schedule, adding connections between Chiang Mai and major overseas cities. The return of services that had been suspended during the summer timetable, as well as increased frequencies on other routes, is expected to support the rise.

Etihad Airways is due to resume its Abu Dhabi-Chiang Mai-Abu Dhabi route after pausing it during the summer schedule. Other services returning or increasing frequency include flights to Jinghong in Xishuangbanna, Shanghai and Incheon.

Oil costs affected early-year operations

Karan said air travel at Chiang Mai has increased annually since the Covid-19 pandemic eased. But conflict in the Middle East early in 2026 contributed to fluctuating fuel prices, higher airline operating costs and changes to flight planning.

Those factors meant that total flight and passenger volumes in the first eight months remained close to last year's levels despite the growth in international arrivals.

Airport upgrades under way

The airport says it has prepared terminal space, facilities, flight and passenger management, aviation safety and security arrangements for the high season. It is coordinating with airlines, government agencies and relevant operators to keep services running smoothly.

Six replacement passenger boarding bridges were fully installed and brought into use on 21 August 2026. Urgent infrastructure works, including a fire station, cargo building, Control Post 2 and a ground support equipment parking area, are also progressing to plan.

Karan said Chiang Mai Airport, as a gateway to northern Thailand, was focusing on infrastructure and service improvements to support future growth and connections to domestic and international destinations.

Picture courtesy of MGR Online

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14 September 2026

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