Lucky Air Launches Direct Kunming-Udon Thani Flights Ahead of Horticultural Expo

Udon Thani Airport has launched a new direct charter flight linking Thailand’s northeastern city with Kunming, China, as the province prepares to welcome visitors for the Udon Thani International Horticultural Expo 2026-2027. Deputy Transport Minister Phattharaphong Phattharaprasit said the Kunming-Udon Thani-Kunming service, operated by Lucky Air, will run twice a week. The inaugural service uses a Boeing 737-800 aircraft with 189 seats, strengthening air connectivity between Thailand and China and providing another travel option for visitors heading to Udon Thani and the upper Northeast. The flights are part of preparations for the horticultural expo, which will run from 1 November 2026 to 14 March 2027. Udon Thani Airport has been designated as an international airport by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand and is among 11 airports authorized to handle scheduled and charter international flights. The airport has a 3,048-meter runway, 11 aircraft parking stands and passenger facilities capable of handling around 3.4 million passengers a year. Terminal B has also been upgraded to accommodate customs, immigration, plant and animal quarantine, international disease control and VAT refund services. The airport is also preparing shuttle bus services to connect with the expo and parking areas, with 40 trips per day on each of three main routes, as part of efforts to handle increased passenger traffic during the event.