Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) celebrated a significant milestone today with the successful inaugural flight of Etihad Airways' Abu Dhabi-Chiang Mai flight EY426. This milestone marks a crucial step in TAT's "Focus on Aviation" strategy to enhance Thailand's international air connectivity, injecting new momentum into Thailand's peak tourist season and showcasing the effectiveness of its partnerships with leading global airlines, helping Thailand further solidify its position as a premium tourist destination and regional aviation hub.
At 6:05 AM, flight EY426 landed at Chiang Mai International Airport, where it was warmly welcomed with a water salute and traditional Thai cultural ceremonies. Mr. Chuwit Sirivajakul, Deputy Director General of Policy and Planning at the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and Mr. Wirapong Ritrod, Deputy Governor of Chiang Mai Province, jointly presided over the inaugural flight ceremony. TAT executives and local partners from the public and private sectors were also present. To commemorate this momentous occasion, all passengers on the inaugural flight received a special souvenir.
Mr. Chuwi Sirivajakul stated at the event that Etihad Airways' launch of the Abu Dhabi-Chiang Mai route is a significant achievement under TAT's "Focus on Aviation" strategy, fully demonstrating the strength of Thai Airways' partnerships. This route not only provides a convenient gateway for Middle Eastern travelers to northern Thailand but also allows long-haul tourists from Europe and America to deeply experience the region's rich culture, beautiful scenery, and friendly people, perfectly aligning with Thailand's "value over quantity" tourism strategy and helping to cultivate the high-quality tourism and high-spending market.
The launch of this new route further deepens the cooperation between TAT and Etihad Airways. Previously, in early October, the two companies successfully launched the Abu Dhabi-Krabi route. This Chiang Mai route operates four times a week, using Airbus A321LR aircraft with 160 seats, providing more flexible options for travelers from the Middle East and around the world to and from northern Thailand. The route also supports efficient multi-destination itinerary planning, such as Krabi-Bangkok-Chiang Mai and Chiang Mai-Phuket-Dubai.
Notably, the Abu Dhabi-Chiang Mai route, spanning 4,612 kilometers, has become the longest direct flight route to date at Chiang Mai International Airport, breaking the previous record of 3,979 kilometers held by the Chiang Mai-Kuan Sai route, marking a significant milestone in the airport's development.
The Middle East is one of Thailand's fastest-growing source markets, with core tourists coming from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. Tourists from these countries have high income levels and prefer family travel, wellness travel, and luxury travel. From January 1 to October 31, 2025, Thailand received over 679,900 tourists from this region, and this number is projected to exceed 850,000 for the entire year. Middle Eastern tourists stay in Thailand for an average of 10 days, spending approximately 100,000 baht per trip, making them a key force supporting Thailand's premium tourism strategy.
