HAIKOU Meilan International Airport yesterday commenced operations at its new international terminal, following more than two years of construction work.
Located on the east side of the original terminal, the new facility offers a lounge area decorated with coconut trees, in line with the airport’s reputed ecological garden design.
The apron now accommodates 10 international flights, up from three previously.
Jetstar, which runs up to four weekly flights from Haikou to Singapore, was the first foreign airline to use the new terminal at the airport.
Observed the airline’s CEO, Bara Pasupathi: “Since 2009, we have seen double-digit increases year-on-year of passengers from Hainan to Singapore and beyond. Last year alone, we saw a 37 per cent increase in the number of Hainan passengers travelling with us.
“As we enter into our fifth year of flying from Haikou, we anticipate that we will carry more than 200,000 passengers to and from Haikou before the end of the year. “
