Ezy Airlines cancels northern Thailand routes over airport fees

Ezy Airlines has cancelled its planned flight routes in northern Thailand, including services between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son, due to high airport costs. The airline reported that Chiang Mai International Airport imposes an aircraft parking fee of 40,000 baht (approximately US$1,150) per use, a cost the carrier deems unsustainable.

Operating with 12-seat Cessna Caravan aircraft, the airline had planned ticket prices between 2,500 and 3,000 baht. Even with full passenger capacity, the revenue from a flight would not cover the mandatory parking fee. Consequently, the airline has halted all planned northern expansions, which included routes to Pai and potential connections to Nan and Mae Sot.

The cancelled services were intended to boost regional tourism and economic activity, offering a 35-to-40-minute flight alternative to the six-to-seven-hour road journey. While northern operations are suspended, the airline's existing services in southern Thailand remain unaffected.