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The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) welcomed the inaugural Etihad Airways’ Abu Dhabi–Chiang Mai flight earlier today, 4th November.
This initial flight marks a milestone in TAT’s Airline Focus strategy to strengthen Thailand’s international air connectivity.
At the same time, this new route adds momentum to Thailand’s high season and reflects the success of TAT’s partnerships with leading global carriers in positioning Thailand as a quality destination and regional aviation hub.
Flight EY426 landed at Chiang Mai International Airport at 06.05 Hrs. and was greeted with a water salute and Thai-style cultural welcome ceremony.
The event was led by TAT deputy governor for policy planning Chuwit Sirivajjakul and Chiang Mai’s deputy governor Weerapong Ritrod, together with TAT executives and local partners from the public and private sectors.
Passengers received souvenirs as part of the warm hospitality extended to mark the occasion.
A notable achievement for the Airline Focus strategy
According to Sirivajjakul, the launch of Etihad Airways’ Abu Dhabi–Chiang Mai service represents a key achievement under TAT’s Airline Focus strategy and demonstrates the strength of Thailand’s aviation partnerships.
He explained: “This connection enhances access to Northern Thailand for travellers from the Middle East, while also enabling long-haul visitors from Europe and the Americas to experience the region’s rich culture, natural beauty, and warm hospitality. It underscores our Value over Volume approach, focusing on quality tourism and high-spending markets.”
The new service expands TAT’s partnership with Etihad Airways, following the successful launch of the airline’s Abu Dhabi–Krabi route in early October.
Operating four flights per week with an Airbus A321LR offering 160 seats, the route provides travellers from the Middle East and beyond with greater convenience and seamless access to Thailand’s northern region.
It also supports time-efficient multi-destination itineraries such as Krabi–Bangkok–Chiang Mai or Chiang Mai–Phuket–Dubai.
The service marks a milestone for Chiang Mai International Airport as its longest direct route to date at 4,612 kilometres, surpassing the previous record held by the Chiang Mai–Kansai service at 3,979 kilometres.
A link to one of the country’s biggest source markets
The Middle East remains one of Thailand’s fastest-growing source markets, comprising travellers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries which are known for high income levels and a preference for family, wellness, and luxury travel.
Between 1st January and 31st October of this year, Thailand welcomed over 679,924 visitors from the region, with arrivals projected to exceed 850,000 by year-end.
Middle Eastern travellers have an average stay of ten days and spend around 100,000 Baht per trip, underscoring the region’s importance to Thailand’s quality tourism strategy.
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Source: traveldailymedia