Haikou to Unite London, Brussels, Jeddah, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur with New Routes Effectuated by Hainan Airlines: What You Need to Know

Published on December 24, 2025

Hainan Airlines has been rebuilding its international network following the pandemic and the gradual opening of China’s borders. In 2026 the carrier will reap the benefits of several new routes that were inaugurated late in 2025 and are scheduled to operate throughout the 2025‑26 winter–spring season and beyond. These connections link the Hainan Free Trade Port and other Chinese cities with Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, and they complement a series of new domestic routes within China. The following sections describe the new flights, their schedules and their significance.

Brussels – Chongqing

On 22 November 2025, Hainan Airlines launched a direct passenger service linking Brussels and Chongqing. Flight HU470 departs Brussels three times per week and flies directly to Chongqing, cutting the journey to about ten hours[1]. This service is the airline’s fourth direct link between Brussels and mainland China after Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen[2]. The route expands Belgium’s connectivity to western China; Brussels Airport officials noted that the new link will make travelling between the two countries more convenient and will support tourism and business. They added that the airport plans to add more direct routes to Chinese cities in 2026[3]. The outbound flight operates three times a week and the inbound flight from Chongqing follows the same frequency, creating a continuous loop that will remain in place during 2026.

Haikou – Jeddah

China’s first direct air service to Saudi Arabia’s port city of Jeddah began on 28 June 2025. The new Haikou – Jeddah route, operated by Hainan Airlines, offers three round‑trip flights per week (Monday, Wednesday and Saturday). Outbound flights leave Haikou’s Meilan International Airport at 03:40 Beijing Time and arrive at King Abdulaziz International Airport at about 08:00 local time. Return flights depart Jeddah at 13:40 local time and reach Haikou early the next morning[4]. The route is marketed as a bridge between the southern Chinese province and Saudi Arabia, opening opportunities for tourism and trade. Because the service started mid‑summer 2025, it will operate throughout 2026 and gives Hainan Airlines a presence in the Middle East.

Haikou – Nha Trang (Cam Ranh)

In late November 2025 Hainan Airlines opened a direct service from Haikou to Nha Trang in Vietnam. An official notice from Haikou’s municipal information office reported that flight HU715 departed Haikou Meilan International Airport on 24 November 2025, marking the start of scheduled direct flights to Nha Trang[5]. The route is operated with a Boeing 737 and offers three weekly rotations on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays[5]. Outbound flights leave Haikou at 22:45 Beijing Time, arriving at Nha Trang’s Cam Ranh Airport at 23:45 local time; return flight HU716 departs Nha Trang at 01:10 local time and lands in Haikou at 04:10 Beijing Time[5]. The city of Haikou promotes the route as a new “air bridge” for tourism and cultural exchanges between Hainan and Southeast Asia. Since this service began just five weeks before the start of 2026, it will be a fresh option for travelers throughout the new year.

Haikou – Ho Chi Minh City

Hainan Airlines plans to launch a Haikou – Ho Chi Minh City non‑stop service on 15 December 2025 and operate it throughout 2026. A statement on the airline’s official news platform describes the route as facilitating business and cultural ties between China and Vietnam. The flight will operate twice per week (Mondays and Fridays). Outbound service is scheduled to leave Haikou Meilan International Airport at 06:50 Beijing Time and arrive at Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport at 07:55 local time. The return flight departs Ho Chi Minh City at 08:55 local time and lands in Haikou at 11:55 Beijing Time[6]. The route is expected to enhance connectivity for travellers in both countries and to support Hainan’s role as a free‑trade hub.

Qionghai (Bo’ao) – Kuala Lumpur

The Hainan provincial government is developing Bo’ao Airport in Qionghai as a secondary gateway. Hainan Airlines announced that, starting 7 December 2025, it would open a twice‑weekly service between Qionghai and Kuala Lumpur using a Boeing 737‑800. According to the airline’s news release, the outbound flight leaves Qionghai at 16:40 Beijing Time and arrives in Kuala Lumpur at 20:10 local time. The return flight departs Kuala Lumpur at 12:10 local time and arrives back in Qionghai at 15:25 Beijing Time after a flight of about three hours and ten minutes. The carrier expects this new link to strengthen trade and tourism between southern China and Malaysia and to support the internationalisation of the Bo’ao area. The service will be available every Wednesday and Sunday and will continue through the 2026 travel season.

Haikou – London

On 7 May 2025 Hainan Airlines inaugurated a direct flight from Haikou to London Heathrow. The launch ceremony at Haikou Meilan Airport was followed by the departure of flight HU7911, marking the airline’s first direct service from Hainan to the United Kingdom[7]. The route is scheduled as a once‑weekly round trip. According to the airline, the outbound flight departs Haikou at 13:45 Beijing Time and lands at Heathrow at 19:30 local time; the return flight HU7912 leaves London at 22:00 local time and arrives back in Haikou at 16:55 Beijing Time the following day[8]. The service helps connect Hainan’s free‑trade port with Europe’s largest aviation hub and is expected to continue year‑round, providing travellers in 2026 with a direct link between Hainan and Britain.

Beijing – Oslo

Norway’s airport operator Avinor announced that Hainan Airlines would resume its Beijing–Oslo direct service on 22 March 2025. The press release explained that the seasonal service runs until late October with three weekly departures on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Flights are operated by an Airbus A330‑300 configured with 32 business‑class seats and 260 economy seats. The outbound flight (HU769) departs Beijing Capital Airport at 02:40 local time and arrives in Oslo at 05:50; the return flight (HU770) leaves Oslo at 12:30 and arrives in Beijing the following morning at 04:30 Beijing Time. Avinor emphasised that the restored route provides a fast connection for passengers and cargo, boosting Norwegian tourism and seafood exports. Because the route continues into the northern winter schedule, it will be available during much of 2026.

Domestic Expansion for Winter 2025‑26

In addition to its international expansion, Hainan Airlines announced major changes to its domestic network for the 2025‑26 winter–spring season, which runs into March 2026. In a news release issued on 28 October 2025, the airline said it would add eight new domestic routes in China’s northeast to meet winter‑season demand. The new routes include:

• Harbin – Wuhan – Xishuangbanna
• Harbin – Xingtai – Haikou
• Harbin – Jinan – Guangzhou
• Harbin – Qingdao – Shenzhen
• Changchun – Ningbo – Shenzhen
• Dalian – Chongqing
• Shenyang – Wuhan – Shenzhen
• Shenyang – Jinan – Urumqi

The company noted that these routes link popular winter‑tourism destinations and add frequency between the northeast and southern provinces[9]. It said the domestic expansion increases the number of weekly departures from the region to 344 and broadens the network to 69 cities[10]. The schedule also includes a new Changchun – Haikou – Singapore service, giving travellers in China’s northeast access to the island province and onwards to Singapore[11]. These domestic and regional additions will remain in place through early 2026.

Significance and Outlook

The new and reinstated flights described above illustrate Hainan Airlines’ strategy for 2026: diversify long‑haul destinations while reinforcing Hainan’s role as a free‑trade hub. By launching direct services from Haikou to Jeddah, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur and London, the carrier has connected the island province to the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Europe, supporting tourism and trade. The Brussels–Chongqing link expands connectivity between western China and Europe, while the resumption of Beijing–Oslo adds a Nordic destination. Domestically, adding eight winter routes in China’s northeast and a Changchun–Haikou–Singapore flight addresses seasonal demand and strengthens feeder traffic into Hainan’s international network. Collectively, these routes ensure that Hainan Airlines enters 2026 with a broader network and the flexibility to meet the travel boom expected as China’s outbound tourism recovers.

References

1. Xinhua News Agency, China’s Hainan Airlines opens new direct flight linking Brussels, Chongqing, 23 Nov 2025[1][3].
2. Xinhua News Agency, New direct air route links south China’s Haikou with Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah, 28 Jun 2025[4].
3. Haikou Municipal News Service, Haikou international routes add another new link – Haikou ⇌ Vietnam Nha Trang direct flight opens, 26 Nov 2025[5].
4. Hainan Airlines News Centre, Free‑Trade Port countdown: Hainan Airlines to open Haikou – Ho Chi Minh City international route on 15 December, 3 Dec 2025[6].
5. Hainan Airlines News Centre, Hainan Airlines plans to open Qionghai – Kuala Lumpur international route on 7 December, 17 Nov 2025.
6. Hainan Airlines News Centre, Hainan Airlines Haikou – London international route officially inaugurated, 7 May 2025[12].
7. The Avinor Group (Norway), Hainan Airlines resumes direct flights between Beijing and Oslo, press release, 2 Jan 2025.
8. Hainan Airlines News Centre, Hainan Airlines northeast winter‑spring schedule adds eight domestic routes, 28 Oct 2025[10].
9. Xinhua News Agency, Direct air route links south China’s Haikou with Vietnam’s Nha Trang, 25 Nov 2025[13].