Flight schedules altered due to Thai lantern festival

An airline in Thailand has changed its flight schedule during a lantern festival due to safety concerns.

An airline in Thailand has changed its flight schedule during a lantern festival in the North due to safety concerns. Image by John Shedrick / CC BY 2.0

Thai Airways International announced that some flights to Northern Thailand from 24 to 27 November will be adjusted or cancelled during the Loi Krathong festival due to the release of floating lanterns, the company said in a news release.

In Bangkok, the sale of sky lanterns and fireworks that are often set off during the festival will be banned, due to the impact on aviation, according to ThaiPBS.

While the festival is focused on floating vessels made of banana leaves on the water, sky lanterns have also become a popular part of the tradition and are often accompanied by fireworks.

Loi Krathong pays respect to the river goddess at the end of the rainy season and is marked on the full month of the 12^th lunar month. In addition to the sky laterns, the rivers are filled with krathongs, or floats, made of banana stems and leaves, which are then covered with flowers, candles and coins. The floats are released onto the water.