Haze forces Kan Airlines to scrap route

North smog crisis spurs health, tourism fears

Worsening haze conditions in Thailand’s northern provinces has prompted Kan Airlines to cancel domestic flights between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son, Mae Hong Son Airport director Weerawat Takhong said yesterday.

The flight uses ATR-60 aircraft, which require operational visibility of at least 5,000 metres, he said. But the visibility at present is limited to roughly 3,000 metres due to smoky conditions, according to Mr Weerawat. The airline is monitoring the numbers of passengers who want to fly between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son and may be able to provide services on 12-seater planes, which can safely function with lower visibility distances, he said.

Meanwhile, the Pollution Control Department said haze pollution is reaching its seasonal peak in three northern provinces — Lampang, Phrae and Chiang Mai.

Levels of high particulate matter are nearly double the safety standards in Lampang and Phrae.

While safety standards delineate that particles must remain below 120 microgrammes per cubic metre of air, the level in Lampang is now 238ug/cu m, followed by Phrae at 215ug/cu m and Chiang Mai with 127ug/cu m, according to Thalerngsak Petchsuwan, an air quality expert with the department.

Long exposure to particles, smoke and dust brought by the haze can lead to a range of respiratory illnesses, warned the department.

Mr Thalerngsak said the smog is only expected to worsen, and could even increase by 10% this week, because farmers continue to engage in slash and burn cultivation though there is little wind.

In the past few days, particles have accumulated due to the lack of wind because the haze has not been naturally dispersed.

The problem of seasonal haze is acute in the mountainous North in March and April.

It is the hot, dry season, and farmers slash and burn their fields to prepare the soil for the planting of new crops, he said.

Mr Thalerngsak noted that “hotspots” — where farmers burn their fields — can be detected by satellite.

“Whether we like it or not, it’s already happened,” he said.

“The amount of particles will increase if we fail to control the number of hotspots,” he added, basing his expectations on information from the Thai Meteorological Department.

The government has launched a 120day campaign, from Jan 1 to April 30, to prevent northern haze pollution. It has requested local organisations to cooperate to reduce the number of hotspots.

Wichien Jungrungruang, the department’s chief, said each province has its own plan to limit hotspot numbers by setting up “no-burning” zones for a staggered 60-day period in March and April.

Lampang tour operators expressed concerns over the smog that has blanketed the province for days, citing fears that tourism will be affected.

Surapon Tansuwan, president of the Tourism Industry for Lampang, said that if air quality fails to return to normal, visitors are likely to delay their trips to the province.

In Nan province bordering Laos, thick smog caused by forest fires has covered Muang district and locals worry it poses health risks.

Data from a local Nan pollution control unit showed that airborne particulate matter, or PM10, stood at 145ug/cu m, which is considered “unhealthy”.