First direct flight from Singapore to Chiang Rai: New travel perspectives!

First direct flight from Singapore to Chiang Rai: New travel perspectives!

Freshly landed from Singapore and with a bang! On January 1, 2026, the first direct flight from Singapore to Chiang Rai took off, a milestone for tourism in northern Thailand. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the airline Scoot have launched this connection to improve the region's international connectivity and position Chiang Rai as an attractive travel destination.

The first aircraft, the TR670, landed at Mae Fah Luang International Airport promptly at 6:50 p.m. To celebrate the new service, there was a reception ceremony with a cannon salute where local souvenirs were presented to passengers. The ceremony was led by Chiang Rai Governor Choocheap Pongchai and TAT Deputy Governor Pattaraanong Na Chiang Mai.

A step in the right direction for Chiang Rai

The new route is specifically designed to target high-value short-haul markets, primarily returning travelers from Singapore. The target groups are diverse: wellness and health vacationers, luxury travelers and couples on honeymoon or honeymoon now have the opportunity to explore Chiang Rai more intensively. This connection also enables multi-destination travel and combines air and car travel, which rounds off the travel experience.

Scoot's flights operate five times a week using state-of-the-art Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, each capable of carrying 112 passengers. Departures take place on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays in the afternoon and on Tuesdays and Saturdays in the early morning hours. Calvin Chan, Scoot's chief commercial officer, described the inaugural flight as a significant step and now sees Chiang Rai as the seventh destination in Thailand in the airline's portfolio.

Tourism promotion in focus

Why is this so important? Thailand remains one of the most popular destinations for visitors from Singapore. In 2025, there were an impressive 967,341 arrivals from Singapore. For 2026, over 1.12 million arrivals are expected. Most of the Singaporean travelers are independent, repeat guests who typically stay for around five days. Key travel times include the end-of-year holidays and mid-year school holidays, which provide additional incentives.

The TAT is increasing its efforts to promote lesser-known regions such as Chiang Rai. Marketing campaigns and media programs are now being planned together with Scoot to support this new flight connection. This is ultimately intended to support the national strategy for better distribution of tourist flows in Thailand.

In summary: This new connection not only does good business for the region, but also brings more tourists to the sights and natural wonders of Chiang Rai, which is clearly on the rise with its architecture, authentic cuisine and vibrant art scene.