Thai Airways International launches New Route from Chiang Mai to Jinghong

Thai Airways International has launched a new route between Chiang Mai and Jinghong, Xishuangbanna region, Yunnan province, P.R China. The route was launched as part of the airline's new summer schedule starting 31 March 2004.

Mr Kanok Abhiradee, THAI's President, said that the new route supports the government's policy to make Chiang Mai the hub of air transport in the northern region.

Jinghong is the centre for research and development of plants and animals of Yunnan province, with tropical plants from all over the world, as well as a variety of tourist attractions and scenery.

China's recent "Go West" policy to develop the country's western region including Yunnan province (which connects with northern Thailand), is in line with Thailand's policy to develop Chiang Mai as the northern hub. 

In the past, approximately 60,000 visitors from Yunnan visited Thailand each year, while 50,000 Thais traveled to Yunnan. The attractions there include the culture, way of life, handicrafts, art and festivals. There is a sense of common heritage links, with local ethnic groups having similar cultures to Thailand's northern region. Xishuangbanna also observes the beginning and end of the Buddhist Rains Retreat as well as Songkran.

THAI has introduced the new Chiang Mai-Jinghong route, utilising ATR 72 aircraft, with two weekly flights on Wednesday and Friday. Flight TG 660 departs Chiang Mai at 10:40 hrs and arrives in Jinghong at 13:10 hrs. Return flight TG 661 departs Jinghong at 13:50 hrs and arrives in Chiang Mai at 14:20 hrs.