The inaugural flight of the Sanya ⇌ Vientiane route operated by Lao Airlines touched down at Sanya on November 24. (Source: Sanya Phoenix International Airport)

On November 24, the inaugural flight of the Sanya ⇌ Vientiane route operated by Laos' Lao Airlines touched down at Sanya Phoenix International Airport, marking the successful launch of a new direct air link between Sanya and the country.

It joins four other international routes inaugurated this month, including Sanya ⇌ Cheongju, Sanya ⇌ Minsk, Ulaanbaatar ⇌ Sanya ⇌ Ulan-Ude, and Sanya ⇌ Kuala Lumpur, enhancing Sanya's global connectivity and further integrating it into the wider world.

On November 23, 2025, annual passenger throughput at Sanya Phoenix International Airport exceeded 20 million people, a 19-day lead over last year's figure, translating to a year-on-year increase of 6%.

Boosting international aviation connectivity

It's not just that so many international routes were launched this month in Sanya that's special; it's also what each route represents.

The Sanya ⇌ Minsk route, operated by Belarusian flag carrier Belavia, saw an occupancy rate of 98% on its inaugural flight, a first for flights between the Eastern European nation and China's only tropical island province. "The data far exceeded expectations, proving the huge market potential between the two regions," exclaimed Igor Cherginets, General Manager of Belarus Airlines, unable to hide his excitement.

The Ulaanbaatar ⇌ Sanya ⇌ Ulan-Ude route is the third fifth-freedom passenger route opened by Sanya. The fifth freedom of the air is known as the "most comprehensive traffic right," allowing carriers to load passengers and cargo between two countries outside their own. This route connects Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, and Ulan-Ude, a major city in Russia, with a stopover in Sanya, achieving passenger and logistics connectivity between China, Mongolia, and Russia.

Malaysian and Chinese citizens traveling on the Sanya⇌Kuala Lumpur route benefit from the mutual visa exemption agreement between China and Malaysia, providing travelers with convenient travel options.

The inaugural flight of the Sanya ⇌ Cheongju route operated by T'way Airlines touched down at Sanya on November 17. (Source: Hainan Daily)

On November 17, the inaugural flight of the Sanya ⇌ Cheongju route, operated by South Korean carrier T'way Airlines, marked the successful launch of a new direct air link between South Korea and Hainan, granting easier access to the tropical island to even more South Korean residents.

To date, Sanya has launched 40 international routes, connecting 31 destinations, with network coverage extending to key regions such as Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, and Europe, strengthening Sanya's role as an international aviation hub.

Multi-party collaboration lays foundation for air connectivity

The successful launch of multiple international routes in Sanya is the result of long-term unremitting efforts by various parties. A cooperation model of "government guidance, market operation, and enterprise leadership" ensures the stable operation and sustainable development of the routes.

At the provincial level, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province regards expanding international routes as a key task, taking proactive steps by organizing various tourism promotion events in target markets such as Southeast Asia, Russia, and Belarus. These preliminary promotional activities have laid the market foundation for the cultivation and development of air routes.

Local governments have also carried out precise coordination. Taking the Sanya ⇌ Minsk route as an example, Sanya's municipal authorities actively coordinated with the Consulate General of Belarus in Guangzhou to facilitate the launch of the route.

New routes activate new market dynamics

The new air routes not only increase inbound passenger flow but also facilitate the cross-border movement of production factors, such as information, capital, and technology, thereby injecting new vitality into Sanya and Hainan's development.

"The launch of direct flights, the visa-free policy, and convenient Russian-language services make it much easier for Belarusian tourists to vacation in Hainan," said Olga Mishkovskaya, a Belarusian travel agent. She noted that Belarusian tourists now choose Hainan not only for beach holidays but also show strong interest in sightseeing, shopping, and medical tourism.

Sanya, continuing to leverage the policy advantages of the Hainan Free Trade Port, plans to launch even more fifth- and seventh-freedom air routes, further enhancing the reach and flexibility of its air route network.