Airport Director Karan Thanakuljeerapat confirmed on 2nd March that Etihad — the only airline operating a Middle East route from the airport — has halted its four-times-weekly service until further notice.
The suspension took effect on 1st March, when outbound flight EY427 to Abu Dhabi was cancelled after the inbound EY426 had already been pulled, leaving around 160 passengers stranded. Etihad is offering affected travellers hotel accommodation, rebooking on alternative flights, or the option to reschedule. Updates are available via the airline’s website, with remaining scheduled flights assessed day-by-day.
On security, Karan said the airport has tightened screening and operations beyond its standard ICAO-compliant procedures. No additional threat alerts have been received, but the airport is ready to escalate security levels immediately should any warnings emerge.
Passengers with upcoming Etihad bookings via Chiang Mai are advised to check the airline’s website for the latest updates.
