PATTAYA, Thailand – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Scoot welcomed the New Year with the inaugural Singapore–Chiang Rai service on 1 January 2026, marking a significant step in expanding international air access to northern Thailand and reinforcing Chiang Rai’s position as an emerging destination for culturally rich and nature-based travel.
Scoot flight TR670 arrived at Mae Fah Luang International Airport at 18:50 on New Year’s Day, receiving a ceremonial welcome to mark the first landing of the new route. The arrival featured a traditional cannon salute and the presentation of locally crafted souvenirs to passengers, setting a festive tone for the launch.
The inaugural event was presided over by Mr. Choocheap Pongchai, Governor of Chiang Rai Province, together with Miss Pattaraanong Na Chiang Mai, TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing – Asia and the South Pacific, alongside senior TAT and Scoot executives, airport representatives, provincial authorities and tourism partners.
Miss Pattaraanong said, “The new route also supports TAT’s efforts to stimulate demand among high-value short-haul segments, particularly repeat travellers from Singapore. These include wellness and health-focused travellers, luxury and experiential seekers, sport and active lifestyle visitors, as well as couples and special-interest travellers such as honeymoon and wedding groups. The service further enhances opportunities for multi-destination journeys, including overland and fly-and-drive travel, allowing visitors to combine Chiang Rai with other destinations across Thailand.”
Beyond generating new demand, the direct Singapore–Chiang Rai connection supports Thailand’s broader tourism dispersion strategy by encouraging travellers to explore northern destinations beyond established gateways. The route complements existing access to Chiang Mai and helps distribute visitor flows more evenly across the region, positioning Chiang Rai as a distinctive cultural and nature-based destination in its own right.
Scoot operates five weekly flights on the route using Embraer E190-E2 aircraft with 112 seats. Flights operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays with afternoon departures from Singapore, and on Tuesdays and Saturdays with early-morning services, offering convenient schedules for both inbound and outbound travel.
“We are excited to launch our inaugural flight to Chiang Rai today, marking our seventh destination in Thailand and a significant milestone in our network expansion in the region,” said Mr. Calvin Chan, Chief Commercial Officer of Scoot. “Chiang Rai offers travellers an abundance of natural beauty, rich architecture, authentic cuisine and a vibrant art scene. The addition of this new route provides more seamless connectivity between Singapore and Thailand, allowing more international travellers across the SIA Group’s network to visit Chiang Rai conveniently. For local residents in the Northern Thailand region, we hope this new route will encourage even more to travel to Singapore and the rest of the world. We value our partnership with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and our local partners and look forward to continuing working closely to develop and promote this route.”
Thailand remains one of Singaporeans’ top three destinations, welcoming 967,341 visitors in 2025, with arrivals projected to exceed 1.12 million in 2026. Singaporean travellers are predominantly independent and repeat visitors, typically enjoying short breaks of around five days, demonstrating strong spending potential, and showing consistent interest in Thai cuisine, wellness, cultural discovery and distinctive local destinations. Peak travel periods include the year-end festive season and mid-year school holidays, reinforcing Singapore’s role as a resilient and high-quality short-haul market for Thailand.
While demand continues to centre on established destinations such as Bangkok, Phuket, Songkhla (Hat Yai), Chiang Mai and Krabi, TAT is stepping up efforts to spotlight emerging areas including Chiang Rai. In support of the new route, the TAT Singapore Office is implementing joint promotions with Scoot alongside targeted media familiarisation activities to strengthen Chiang Rai’s destination profile and encourage sustainable visitation. (TAT)
