Hainan's civil aviation has seen tremendous growth over the 70 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, especially after the establishment of the Hainan Special Economic Zone 31 years ago.
Over the decades, the island province has not only seen the establishment of Hainan Airlines, one of the fastest growing airline companies in China, but has also borne witness to the establishment of Haikou Meilan International Airport, Sanya Phoenix International Airport, and Qionghai Boao International Airport, which are landmark projects for the province's transportation development.
A photo shows Sanya Phoenix International Airport in construction. The airport was completed in June 1994. [Photo/Hainan Daily]
A plane takes off from Sanya Phoenix International Airport. [Photo/Hainan Daily]
Before 1988, Hainan did not have an independent civil aviation airport. There were only two small airports in Haikou and Sanya, which were designed for both civil and military uses. In 1999, Haikou Meilan International Airport opened to passengers, ushering in a brand-new vista for Hainan's civil aviation.
In 2017, the annual passenger throughput of the four airports operated by Hainan Airlines exceeded 40 million passengers for the first time, setting a new major milestone in the development of the island province's civil aviation industry.
An aerial photo of the second phase project of Haikou Meilan International Airport. [Photo/Hainan Daily]
Passengers arrive at Qionghai Boao International Airport, which was put into use in 2016 after a 10-month construction phase. [Photo/Hainan Daily]
Overview
Haikou 
Sanya 
