CHIANG RAI, 16 February 2018: China Eastern has been operating a service from its main hub in Shanghai to Chiang Rai an emerging tourist destination in far north Thailand.
Airlineroute called it a limited-time service offering Chinese holidaymakers three weekly flights from 2 February to 12 March.
The flights cover the Chinese New Year travel season and are sold exclusively to travel companies in China that pre book seat allotments for their holiday packages.
Thailand is encouraging airlines to serve secondary airports, but Chiang Rai was selected due to air traffic congestion at Chiang Mai airport, 180 km southwest which is the main gateway for Chinese package holidays visiting North Thailand.
China Eastern operates flights from Shanghai Pu Dong airport to Chiang Rai on Monday, Wednesday and Friday using an 178-seat Airbus A321.
According to Airlineroute timetable information the flight (MU2691) departs PVG at 1305 and arrives in Chiang Rai at 1620.
A member of the Skyteam alliance, the airline flies to 217 destinations with a fleet of 488 aircraft.
