Thai airline halts certain domestic flights due to air pollution

Bangkok Airways announced on Wednesday that it will suspend flights between Bangkok and Mae Hong Son for more than a month due to poor visibility caused by air pollution.

The airline stated that flights to the northwestern province would be halted as smog is expected to make landing conditions unsafe. Mae Hong Son airport authorities previously announced on Facebook that flights would be suspended from March 15 to April 20.

This marks the second consecutive year that Bangkok Airways has faced disruptions due to extreme smog levels in the region. Northern Thailand, especially Mae Hong Son, experiences severe air pollution between December and April as farmers burn crop stubble to prepare for the next planting season.

In response to worsening air quality, the Thai government banned crop burning in early 2025, imposing fines and legal action on violators. However, the effectiveness of the ban remains uncertain.

According to IQ Air, the air quality index in Mae Hong Son is currently 7.9 times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended safety levels, highlighting the severity of the pollution crisis.