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Flight comparison
Chiang Mai International (CNX) handles 11+ million passengers a year, with 60+ daily flights from Bangkok alone. Most international travel is 1–2 stops via Bangkok or another Asian hub — here's every route worth knowing, with realistic durations and prices.
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| From | IATA | Duration | Stops | Price band | Find flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) | BKK → CNX | 1h 15m | Direct | $40–110 (~1,400–3,900 THB) | Check price → |
| Bangkok (Don Mueang) | DMK → CNX | 1h 15m | Direct | $25–80 (~900–2,800 THB) | Check price → |
| Phuket | HKT → CNX | 2h 5m | Direct (some via BKK) | $45–120 (~1,600–4,200 THB) | Check price → |
| Koh Samui | USM → CNX | 1h 50m | Direct | $140–280 (~5,000–9,900 THB) | Check price → |
| Krabi | KBV → CNX | 2h 10m | Direct (limited) | $50–130 (~1,800–4,600 THB) | Check price → |
| Singapore (Changi) | SIN → CNX | 3h 5m | Direct | $120–280 (~4,200–9,900 THB) | Check price → |
| Kuala Lumpur | KUL → CNX | 2h 50m | Direct | $80–200 (~2,800–7,100 THB) | Check price → |
| Hong Kong | HKG → CNX | 3h 5m | Direct | $250–550 (~8,800–19,400 THB) | Check price → |
| Seoul (Incheon) | ICN → CNX | 5h 30m | Direct (seasonal) | $400–800 (~14,200–28,300 THB) | Check price → |
| Kunming | KMG → CNX | 1h 50m | Direct | $200–450 (~7,100–15,900 THB) | Check price → |
| Taipei | TPE → CNX | 3h 50m | Direct (limited) | $280–550 (~9,900–19,400 THB) | Check price → |
| London (Heathrow) | LHR → CNX | 14–19h | 1–2 stops (via BKK / DOH / DXB) | $800–1,600 (~28,300–56,600 THB) | Check price → |
| Los Angeles | LAX → CNX | 20–26h | 2 stops (via TPE / BKK or HKG / BKK) | $900–1,700 (~31,900–60,200 THB) | Check price → |
| New York (JFK) | JFK → CNX | 22–28h | 2 stops (via DOH / BKK or HKG / BKK) | $1,000–1,900 (~35,400–67,300 THB) | Check price → |
Prices are typical low-to-high bands in 2026 economy class — not promotional fares. Always confirm at booking.
Duration
1h 15m
Frequency
20+ daily
Typical price
$40–110 (~1,400–3,900 THB)
Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways for full-service connections. Thai VietJet competitive on price. Best option if you're connecting from an international long-haul into BKK.
Find flights Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) → Chiang Mai →Duration
1h 15m
Frequency
15+ daily
Typical price
$25–80 (~900–2,800 THB)
Cheapest way north. AirAsia and Thai Lion Air frequently $25–35 one-way mid-week. Watch the baggage trap — checked bag adds 500–800 THB and may erase the savings.
Find flights Bangkok (Don Mueang) → Chiang Mai →Duration
2h 5m
Frequency
3–5 daily
Typical price
$45–120 (~1,600–4,200 THB)
Direct flights ~3x daily; many slots routed via Bangkok adding 4–5 hours total. Book direct option 4–6 weeks ahead, especially during November–February high season.
Find flights Phuket → Chiang Mai →Duration
1h 50m
Frequency
1 daily
Typical price
$140–280 (~5,000–9,900 THB)
Bangkok Airways monopoly. Single daily flight, expensive but the only direct option. Alternative: ferry to Surat Thani + budget flight to DMK + transfer to CNX (12+ hours).
Find flights Koh Samui → Chiang Mai →Duration
2h 10m
Frequency
3–4 weekly
Typical price
$50–130 (~1,800–4,600 THB)
AirAsia operates 3–4 direct flights per week — schedule varies seasonally. Most travelers connect via DMK adding 4–5 hours total. Confirm direct schedule before booking.
Find flights Krabi → Chiang Mai →Duration
3h 5m
Frequency
1–2 daily
Typical price
$120–280 (~4,200–9,900 THB)
Scoot daily; AirAsia adds capacity in high season. No full-service direct option — connect via Bangkok on Singapore Airlines/Thai if you want Star Alliance miles or premium cabin.
Find flights Singapore (Changi) → Chiang Mai →Duration
2h 50m
Frequency
1–2 daily
Typical price
$80–200 (~2,800–7,100 THB)
AirAsia direct daily — promo fares under $50 one-way appear regularly in low season. Malaysia Airlines requires a connection through Bangkok.
Find flights Kuala Lumpur → Chiang Mai →Duration
3h 5m
Frequency
1 daily (seasonal)
Typical price
$250–550 (~8,800–19,400 THB)
HK Express runs daily; Cathay Pacific operates seasonally. In shoulder seasons many flights become 1-stop via Bangkok — confirm before booking.
Find flights Hong Kong → Chiang Mai →Duration
5h 30m
Frequency
1 daily (Nov–Mar) / via BKK rest of year
Typical price
$400–800 (~14,200–28,300 THB)
Direct flights mainly run November to March (peak Korean tourist season). In low season most routings become 1-stop via Bangkok adding 4–6 hours total.
Find flights Seoul (Incheon) → Chiang Mai →Duration
1h 50m
Frequency
3–5 weekly
Typical price
$200–450 (~7,100–15,900 THB)
Closest mainland China gateway by direct flight. Schedules vary heavily by season — confirm operating days before booking. Useful for combining Yunnan + northern Thailand trips.
Find flights Kunming → Chiang Mai →Duration
3h 50m
Frequency
3–4 weekly
Typical price
$280–550 (~9,900–19,400 THB)
Direct service is seasonal and limited. Most travelers from Taipei connect via Bangkok on EVA Air, with smooth ~6 hour total transit including layover.
Find flights Taipei → Chiang Mai →Duration
14–19h
Frequency
Multiple daily via connections
Typical price
$800–1,600 (~28,300–56,600 THB)
No non-stop. Cheapest is Qatar via Doha + Bangkok — total ~16h with reasonable layover. Thai Airways direct LHR-BKK + short hop to CNX is the smoothest option.
Find flights London (Heathrow) → Chiang Mai →Duration
20–26h
Frequency
Multiple daily via connections
Typical price
$900–1,700 (~31,900–60,200 THB)
Almost always 2 stops. EVA Air via Taipei + Bangkok is most common; Korean Air via Seoul + Bangkok is the alternative. Plan for 22+ hour total journey including layovers.
Find flights Los Angeles → Chiang Mai →Duration
22–28h
Frequency
Multiple daily via connections
Typical price
$1,000–1,900 (~35,400–67,300 THB)
2-stop reality. Qatar via Doha + Bangkok consistently cheapest and fastest. Many travelers book JFK-BKK separately on Qatar/Emirates and add a $40 BKK-CNX flight on AirAsia.
Find flights New York (JFK) → Chiang Mai →CNX is one of Asia's closest airports to a city center — only 4 km from the Old City moat. Transfer times: Old City 10–15 min · Nimmanhaemin 10–15 min · Hang Dong/Doi Suthep 20–30 min · Mae Rim 30–40 min. Official airport taxi 150–200 THB to most central areas; Grab/Bolt 100–150 THB.
Single integrated terminal handles both domestic and international flights. Separate piers for each but easy walk between. Allow 60 minutes for domestic, 90 minutes for international check-in. The airport is small enough that connections are simple — no shuttle needed.
AIS, True and DTAC kiosks in arrivals — tourist SIM 200–400 THB for 7 days unlimited. Or pre-buy an eSIM before you fly to skip the kiosk queue. Free airport WiFi works after a quick SMS verification.
Thai customs allowance: 1L alcohol, 200 cigarettes, plus personal effects. Drone import requires Thai CAAT registration before arrival. Vape/e-cigarettes are illegal — do not bring. International arrivals usually clear immigration in 20–40 minutes.
Plan the rest of your Chiang Mai trip:
May to early October (low season — green season) prices drop 25–40% on most domestic routes. Mid-September is typically the cheapest single window. Avoid late February through April: that's burning season when air quality plummets and many travelers shift dates last-minute. November and December (cool season) are most expensive — book 6–8 weeks ahead.
There are no non-stop flights to Chiang Mai (CNX) from outside Asia. The longest direct route into CNX is Korean Air from Seoul Incheon (ICN) at around 5h 30m — and even that is seasonal, mainly November to March. From outside Asia, expect 2 stops minimum with Bangkok almost always the final connection.
CNX is only 4 km southwest of the Old City — one of the closest airport-to-center distances in Asia. Official airport taxi from the rank: 150–200 THB to the Old City, 10–15 minutes. Grab/Bolt rideshare runs 100–150 THB. Songthaew (red shared truck) outside the airport zone: 40 THB per person but you may need to share. Many hotels offer free pickup if you book 24 hours ahead.
Domestic from Bangkok (BKK or DMK): 4–6 weeks ahead is ideal. AirAsia and Thai Lion Air rarely drop below their advance fare in the final 2 weeks. Regional from Singapore/KL/HK: 6–10 weeks ahead. Long-haul (US/Europe): 4 months ahead — book BKK separately and add a $25–80 BKK-CNX hop on AirAsia or Nok Air. This is almost always cheaper than booking through-tickets to CNX from outside Asia.
If your international flight lands at Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and your CNX flight departs from Don Mueang (DMK) — common with AirAsia/Lion Air bookings — allow 5+ hours between flights. The free shuttle takes 60–90 minutes plus check-in time. If both flights use BKK (Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Thai Smile), 2 hours is enough as you stay airside. Avoid the trap of booking separate tickets BKK arrival + DMK departure with only 3 hours connection — flight delays will burn the buffer.
Routes verified May 2026 against Trip.com schedules and airline timetables. Price bands are typical economy fares (low-to-high) outside peak weeks, not promotional sales. Duration ranges include minimum reasonable layover time for 1- and 2-stop options. We earn a commission when readers book through Trip.com — this never changes the price you pay or the routes we recommend. Last verified May 2026.
New content added regularly! Check back often for the latest Thailand travel guides and tips!