Hainan Airport Group (HNA) announced on 25 October that its 11 airports will operate more than 200,000 flights during the 2025-26 winter-spring season—up 14.6 % on last winter and the strongest growth among China’s provincial airport systems. Weekly movements will average 9,136 across 414 routes linking 333 cities, underscoring Beijing’s ambition to turn the island into a duty-free, visa-free travel hub before full Free-Trade Port status in 2026.
Within the island, Haikou Meilan, Sanya Phoenix and Qionghai Boao airports account for 177,500 of those flights and 334 routes. Meilan alone will handle 626 daily departures to 128 cities, while adding Tokyo, Moscow and Phnom Penh as new international points. More capacity is being deployed to secondary mainland markets such as Xingzhou, Wuhu and Zhangjiajie to capture niche leisure demand.
The expansion dovetails with Hainan’s visa-free regime for citizens of 59 countries and the recent extension of allowable visit purposes to business, medical treatment and exhibitions. Airport officials expect inbound tourist arrivals to exceed pre-pandemic 2019 levels by Lunar New Year, citing 80 % load factors on newly restored Japan and Russia services.
For global mobility professionals, the dense network means easier hop-ons for project teams shuttling between South-East Asian supply bases and Hainan’s bonded processing zones. Companies using the Free-Trade Port for regional headquarters should brief expatriates on the 30-day visa-free stay limit and ensure compliance when multiple short trips accumulate.
Within the island, Haikou Meilan, Sanya Phoenix and Qionghai Boao airports account for 177,500 of those flights and 334 routes. Meilan alone will handle 626 daily departures to 128 cities, while adding Tokyo, Moscow and Phnom Penh as new international points. More capacity is being deployed to secondary mainland markets such as Xingzhou, Wuhu and Zhangjiajie to capture niche leisure demand.
The expansion dovetails with Hainan’s visa-free regime for citizens of 59 countries and the recent extension of allowable visit purposes to business, medical treatment and exhibitions. Airport officials expect inbound tourist arrivals to exceed pre-pandemic 2019 levels by Lunar New Year, citing 80 % load factors on newly restored Japan and Russia services.
For global mobility professionals, the dense network means easier hop-ons for project teams shuttling between South-East Asian supply bases and Hainan’s bonded processing zones. Companies using the Free-Trade Port for regional headquarters should brief expatriates on the 30-day visa-free stay limit and ensure compliance when multiple short trips accumulate.
