Changi Airport Group and Meilan Airport Forge Two-Year Partnership to Expand Routes and Cargo

(IN SHORT) Changi Airport Group and Haikou Meilan International Airport have signed a two-year MOU to intensify collaboration in airport operations, route and cargo expansion, staff training, and technological innovation. Meilan Airport—operational since 1999 and now serving 138 cities on 227 routes—will share best practices with CAG in terminal and airside management and develop talent through Changi Airports International’s joint venture. Both parties will work together to establish new flight links between Singapore and Hainan, utilize expanded traffic rights, and foster connections with Belt and Road countries. The agreement also targets cargo growth by enhancing logistics subcontracting, warehousing, and cross-border e-commerce, positioning the Hainan Free Trade Port as a major global logistics hub.

(PRESS RELEASE) SINGAPORE, 2025-Jun-16 — /Travel PR News/ — Changi Airport Group (CAG) and Haikou Meilan International Airport have formalized a two-year Memorandum of Understanding to deepen their cooperation across airport management, route and cargo development, staff training, and technology innovation. This strategic alliance aims to drive shared growth and bolster regional connectivity.

Since opening in 1999, Meilan Airport has evolved into one of China’s principal domestic hubs, engineered to handle up to 35 million passengers and 400,000 tonnes of freight annually. Today, it links 138 cities via 227 routes and serves as a pivotal gateway between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Renowned for its commitment to safety, brand advancement, and social responsibility, Meilan Airport supports the expansion of the Hainan Free Trade Port and amplifies China’s footprint in the global aviation network through smart-airport technologies that heighten operational efficiency.

Under this MOU, CAG and Meilan will exchange expertise in both terminal and airside operations, and expand staff development via Changi Airports International’s existing joint venture, promoting skill transfers and best practices. They will collaborate to identify and launch new air services—encouraging airlines to introduce direct and transit flights between Singapore, Haikou, and other Hainan destinations—while leveraging fifth- and seventh-freedom traffic rights under China’s liberalized air services framework.

Beyond passenger routes, the partnership seeks to strengthen ties between CAI-managed airports and Hainan facilities, including enhanced connections with Belt and Road Initiative nations. In cargo, the two sides will advance international air logistics subcontracting, warehousing, cross-border e-commerce, and related services. By accelerating digitalization, streamlining customs processes, and boosting efficiency, the alliance will help position the Hainan Free Trade Port as a premier global logistics center.

SOURCE: Changi Airport