HAIKOU /China/, December 28. /TASS/. Meilan International Airport on Hainan Island has begun servicing direct flights three times a week to Hong Kong due to the easing of anti-COVID restrictions in China. This was reported by the Haikou Daily newspaper.

According to the publication, air service to this special administrative area of the PRC will be operated weekly on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday in both directions. It is expected that regular flights to Hong Kong will stimulate the development of business contacts and accelerate the implementation of important investment projects in Hainan.

According to the administration of the airport, one of the flights was resumed on November 16, the other two were opened on December 25.

The provincial government is actively working on issues related to the restoration and opening of new flights to Macao, Southeast Asian countries, the European Union and the United States. In this regard, Meilan expects an increase in international passenger traffic and cargo volume.

According to official data, in 2021, passenger traffic using Meilan Airport increased by 6.2%, exceeding 17.5 million people. The airport plays an important role in shaping Hainan's port of commerce, so the authorities are paying great attention to measures to strengthen its role in the international air transport market.