King Abdulaziz International Airport Launches First Direct Hainan Airlines Flights To Haikou

King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah has welcomed the first flight from China's Hainan Airlines, establishing a direct route to Haikou. This service will operate three times weekly, making the airport the first in Saudi Arabia to offer such connectivity. The new route enhances air traffic between Saudi Arabia and China, bolstering the airport's role as a global logistics hub.

The inaugural flight was greeted by Eng. Mazen bin Mohammed Johar, CEO of Jeddah Airports Company, along with Wang Qimin, Consul General of China in Jeddah. Officials from the Saudi Tourism Authority and other government sectors were also present. Hainan Airlines, recognised among the world's top ten airlines by Skytrax, aims to elevate service quality at the airport.

Hainan Airlines' entry is anticipated to improve air travel services and offer a superior travel experience. Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority, expressed pride in their strategic partnership with Hainan Airlines. He looks forward to expanding this collaboration through targeted initiatives and promotional campaigns led by the authority.

Hamidaddin highlighted a 52% increase in Chinese visitors compared to last year. Currently, six airlines operate 29 weekly flights between Saudi Arabia and China. The Kingdom aims to attract five million Chinese tourists annually by 2030.

Eng. Johar stated that this milestone aligns with plans to increase international destinations served by King Abdulaziz International Airport to 150 by 2030. This goal is part of the National Aviation Strategy and Vision 2030. Integrating Hainan Airlines strengthens Saudi–China air connectivity and supports infrastructure expansion efforts.

The CEO of the Saudi Air Connectivity Program, Majid Khan, described welcoming Hainan Airlines as crucial for enhancing global connectivity. "Welcoming Hainan Airlines in Jeddah reflects growing demand for travel between Saudi Arabia and China," he said.

Boosting Tourism and Economic Ties

Khan emphasised Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb's role in positioning Saudi Arabia as an attractive destination for Chinese tourists. The Chinese market is expected to become the Kingdom’s third-largest source of inbound tourism by 2030.

This development supports Vision 2030’s broader objective to establish Saudi Arabia as a leading global logistics platform. It also opens new horizons for travel and trade while strengthening international air connectivity through ongoing efforts by the General Authority of Civil Aviation.

With inputs from SPA