Chiang Mai airport says 5 airlines will run 6 direct routes in the Winter Schedule starting late October 2026, including Etihad Abu Dhabi–Chiang Mai, plus routes to Jinghong, Shanghai and Incheon. Airport expects about 9.97 million passengers for 2026, but Jan–Aug traffic was roughly flat year on year (6.53 million), and international passengers rose 14%. Chinese and Korean visitors are over half of international passengers. If your business relies on these markets, plan for more high-season visitors from late 2026; keep an eye on fuel-driven schedule changes.