HAIKOU /China/, July 28. /TASS/. The southern Chinese province of Hainan welcomed its first passenger flight on the Frankfurt- Bangkok-Sanya route On July 27, according to the Sanya Ribao newspaper.

According to the report, this development marks the first time that Hainan’s Free Trade Port has been connected to Europe via an air corridor established under the so-called fifth freedom of the air, allowing a company to transport passengers and cargo not only between its home country and a foreign state, but also between two foreign countries. The flights are operated by the German carrier Condor Flugdienst.

Airbus A330 aircraft are used on the route. The newspaper’s authors described this as “a significant step in developing Sanya’s international aviation hub, and a new boost for enhancing the openness of Hainan’s Free Trade Port.”

As noted, the launch of this route is the result of ongoing efforts by the Sanya Municipal Bureau of Tourism to stimulate inbound travel from overseas. In particular, during the ITB Berlin International Tourism Trade Fair in March, the bureau signed a tripartite memorandum with Condor Flugdienst and Phoenix Airport (Sanya) to cooperate on the organization of international air services and to jointly promote relevant tourism brands and products.

According to the Phoenix Airport administration, this route has “filled a gap” in air connectivity between Sanya and key aviation hubs in Western Europe. It is expected to foster steady growth in international passenger traffic, enhance travel convenience, and promote closer cooperation between Europe and Asia.

Sanya continues to expand its global air transport network. Phoenix Airport currently services 34 international and regional routes, with plans to further increase that number in the future.