Air Transport

Chinese civil aviation authorities have firmed up plans for a bold open-skies air services regime for the southern island province of Hainan that could lead to a further opening of the country's airports to foreign carriers in the years ahead.

Plans for the deal were revealed in July by (Flight International 8-14 July), and have been confirmed by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

Under the scheme, foreign airlines will operate as many passenger or cargo services as they wish to Haikou Meilan airport in the north of the province and Sanya Phoenix in the south, as well as to third countries.

No changes will be required to existing bilateral air services agreements between China and other countries.

Foreign airlines will not be allowed to operate from Hainan province to points on the Chinese mainland, however.

The liberalisation, the first of its kind in traditionally protectionist China, is being used by authorities as a test case that could result in similar programmes being implemented.