Hainan Airlines flight HU7913 bound for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, took off in the wee hours of June 28 from Haikou Meilan International Airport, marking the inaugural flight of the city and the Hainan Free Trade Port’s first passenger route to the Middle Eastern kingdom. The launch of the route is a milestone in Haikou’s gradual transformation into an international hub linking the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Passengers check in at Meilan Airport in Haikou for the inaugural flight to Jeddah, the capital of Saudi Arabia. 

The route, undertaken by a widebody Airbus A330 aircraft, runs three weekly flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. HU7913, from Haikou to Jeddah, is scheduled to depart Haikou at 03:40 (UTC+8) and arrive at Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport at 08:00 (UTC+3). The return leg, HU7914, is scheduled to depart Jeddah at 13:40 (UTC+3) and arrive at Haikou Meilan International Airport at 04:40 (UTC+8) the following day. Specific flight times are subject to Hainan Airlines’ official schedule.

An international passenger route has been launched between Haikou, Hainan, and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo: Haikou Meilan International Airport)

To provide passengers with a smoother, more comfortable transfer experience, Meilan International Airport launched its new and improved international transfer zone. Passengers whose transfer time is four hours or less can collect a 40-yuan voucher to spend at the Meilan Airport Hotel restaurant and other selected restaurants in the terminal. Those whose transfers are between four and 72 hours are entitled to a free standard room voucher for two people that can be redeemed at the airport hotel (an additional 200-yuan surplus is to be paid by lone passengers checking in without an accompanying passenger).

Passengers board flight HU7913 bound for Jeddah. (Photo: Haikou Meilan International Airport)

Complementing the opening of the new route between Haikou and Jeddah is the implementation of a trial unilateral visa exemption for citizens of Saudi Arabia. From June 9, 2025, till June 8, 2026, ordinary passport holders of Saudi Arabia can enter China visa-free, adding them to the increasing number of international tourists able to embark on a China adventure at the drop of a hat.

Check-in for both domestic and international flights at Meilan International Airport closes 45 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Please ensure you arrive at the airport with enough time to complete check-in, security, and immigration formalities. If you have any questions, please contact the Meilan Airport service hotline (0898-966114) or submit your question to Meilan Airport’s live streaming room on Douyin.