NORTHERN SMOG has affected aviation services in Mae Hong Son province, resulting in Kan Air cancelling its two morning flights between Chiang Mai and the province since March 19.
The airline has reduced it advance ticket-booking service to a daily basis during this period, Mae Hong Son Airport director Weerawat Thakhong said, adding that evening flights have not been affected.
The small dust particle level in Mae Hong Son’s Muang district was at 209 micrograms per cubic metre yesterday morning with visibility of less than 1,000 metres, dropping to 184mcg by early evening.
Anything above 120mcg is considered unsafe.
Mae Hong Son tourism office director Sonthana Anprasert said the smog had not affected tourism because 95 per cent of visitors travelled to the province by road and the number of visitors this year should be similar to last year’s figure of 1.2 million.
In Chiang Rai province, rainfall yesterday resulted on the dust level in Mae Sai district dropping from 323mcg on Friday to 84mcgs.
As of early yesterday evening, Chiang Mai’s Muang district reported dust levels of between 131-154mcg, while Lampang’s Mae Mo district recorded 133mcg and Tak’s Mae Sot district 147mcg.
