Meilan Airport uses 2 terminals located directly opposite each other.

The distance between the buildings is approximately 350 metres, but it is not possible to walk between them on foot. You can use the free shuttle bus that runs 24/7 between the terminals.

• Travel time between terminals - 5 minutes
• Interval - 15 minutes (30 minutes at night)
• The shuttle bus runs only on the public part (landside) and it is not possible to move between terminals via the transit zone
• For information about the terminal bus: mlairport.com/TerminalShuttle

Both buildings are very modern, uncluttered and the check-in process is fast.

Haikou Airport is a medium-sized airport and you only need to arrive 2 hours early for your departure.

Which terminal?

The terminals are divided by airline.

• Terminal 1 - 9 Air (domestic flights only), Air Changan, Air China, Air Guilin, Beijing Capital Airlines, Chengdu Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, China Express Airlines, China United Airlines, Colorful Guizhou Airlines, Dalian Airlines, Donghai Airlines, Fuzhou Airlines, GX Airlines, Hebei Airlines, Jiangxi Air, Joy Air, Juneyao Airlines, Kunming Airlines, LJ Air, Loong Air (domestic flights only), Lucky Air, Okay Airways, Qingdao Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Spring Airlines, Suparna Airlines, Tianjin Airlines, Tibet Airlines, Urumqi Air, West Air, Xiamen Air
• Terminal 2 - 9 Air (international flights only), Air Cambodia, Batik Air, Cambodia Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Southern Airlines, Firefly, Hainan Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Loong Air (international flights only), SCAT, Scoot, VietJetAir, Vietnam Airlines

Transfer between flights

Haikou is a major transfer point for Hainan Airlines as well as other Chinese airlines.

Book a hotel near Haikou Airport

Connecting at Sanya Airport is very straightforward and simple.

What checks do I go through when I change planes?

Find out what procedures to expect during your transfer.

• International -> International: security check
• International -> domestic: immigration and security check
• Domestic -> International: immigration and security check
• National -> national: no check

Routes from Haikou to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan also count as international flights.

Do I have to leave the transit zone?

If you have luggage all the way to your destination or are travelling with hand luggage only, you do not need to leave the transit area.

Do I have to collect my luggage?

If both flights are booked on the same reservation and you have less than 24 hours to transfer, you do not need to collect your baggage.

Do I need a visa for China?

For international transfers, you do not need to arrange a visa for China, subject to a number of conditions, see below.

Visa-free entry for transfers up to 240 hours

Many airlines also offer long layovers of several days.

Haikou Airport is included in the visa-free entry program for up to a maximum of 240 hours.

Upon arrival, before passing through immigration, look for the special counter where these visa-free entries are processed.

Please note that if you cross within 24 hours, the official may refuse to issue a visa-free entry permit and you will therefore have to spend time in the transit zone.

For transfers over 24 hours, visa-free entry permits are always issued without any problems. However, you need to present your flight ticket from China and your accommodation reservation.

We describe the details in the article Transfer in China and visa-free entry.

Visa-free entry for 30 days

Hainan Island is included in the special regime. Citizens of 59 countries can enter Hainan completely visa-free, i.e. not only when transferring via China.

The condition is a direct flight to Hainan from abroad without a stopover in China.

Citizens of these countries can enter Hainan visa-free via Haikou or Sanya airport:

• Australia and Oceania - Australia, New Zealand
• Asia - Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Malaysia, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Thailand, United Arab Emirates
• Europe - Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Ukraine
• North America - Canada, Mexico, USA
• South America - Argentina, Brazil, Chile

Hotels near the airport

If you are flying out of Haikou Airport early in the morning, it is best to stay in a hotel Haikou Meilan International Airport Hotel **** located directly opposite Terminal 2.