Earlier this month, an Etihad Airways flight glided onto the runway at Chiang Mai International Airport for the very first time – marking a massive moment for the city’s global connectivity. And, as you’d expect, they did it with a bang.
From November 4 2025, the Abu Dhabi-based airline has officially become the first and only carrier linking Chiang Mai directly with the Middle East. This means that for anyone heading west to Europe and beyond, gone are the days of the arduous Bangkok stopover – as long as you can afford the privilege.
To celebrate the news, Etihad Airways sent their best delegates to Chiang Mai where they launched the inaugural flight. The event was one of the biggest I’ve ever seen in Chiang Mai. Every hotel manager, dignitary, politician and influencer were there – and since then the news has been the talk of the town.
Bosang umbrella painting, cocktails and canapes aside, the event spotlighted the new route that aims to bring global tourists to Chiang Mai, and more importantly, give Chiang Mai folks a direct link to the Middle East, and beyond.
As part of the launch, Etihad Airways are offering a special two-day stopover in Abu Dhabi before jetsetters fly onwards to Europe or Africa. The Etihad Stopover Programme, booked directly through the Etihad website, includes a complimentary hotel stay for up to two nights for travellers transiting through Abu Dhabi’s sparkly new Zayed International Airport. Did we mention they’re flying Airbuses too?
But it's not just aviation geeks that are buzzing. The new route – currently running four days a week but expected to increase with demand – is already causing a stir among those in the know.
‘I heard the news about a year ago and was very excited that Etihad was going to fly directly to Chiang Mai,’ says Supa-arpha Itthikaiwan, Director of Marketing and Communications at Anantara Chiang Mai. ‘I fly to Europe every year, usually departing from Bangkok, so this will make my life much easier.’
And for Chiang Mai, the inbound benefits are expected to be equally significant. Amanda Gendey of Settle in Abroad – a company who helps people from around the world relocate to Thailand – told Time Out that ‘direct flights from Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai mean our clients can now reach Northern Thailand faster and more conveniently. Visiting Chiang Mai has never been this easy.’
And to sweeten the deal even more (and get more of us flying, no doubt), new and existing frequent flyer members can bag themselves an instant upgrade to Gold Tier status from 3-30 November 2025. And if you book and fly within six months of registering, they’ll extend the tier status for 12 months.
Buckle up, Chiang Mai. The city’s globally-connected era has officially cleared for takeoff. And with whispers of an Airport upgrade coming soon, the sky’s the limit.
