Haikou Meilan International Airport: Guide, Flights & Tips

Situated on the northern tip of Hainan Island, Haikou Meilan International Airport (IATA: HAK, ICAO: ZJHK) serves as the primary aviation hub and gateway for Hainan Province, China. Opening in March 1999 to replace the aging Dayingshan Airport, Haikou Meilan has evolved into a world-class international transit hub, handling around 27 million passengers annually and anchoring the rapid growth of the Hainan Free Trade Port.

Infrastructure & Layout

Haikou Meilan International Airport features two terminal buildings and two parallel long-distance runways, engineered to accommodate a wide variety of aircraft, up to the Airbus A380.

• Terminal 1 (T1): Opened in 1999 and subsequently expanded, T1 primarily handles domestic routes across mainland China. Designed with traditional tropical landscape elements and high-ceiling architecture, it integrates open-air gardens within its concourses.
• Terminal 2 (T2): Operational since late 2021 as part of the airport’s Phase II expansion, T2 covers nearly 300,000 square meters. It features 110 check-in counters, 46 security lanes, and handles all international and regional flights alongside major domestic trunk lines.
• Runways: The field operates two parallel runways: the original 3,600-meter East Runway and the 3,600-meter West Runway built to Code 4F standards.

Ground Transportation & Connectivity

One of Haikou Meilan’s standout features is its seamless multimodal transport integration.

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│              Haikou Meilan Airport (HAK)                │
└──────────┬───────────────────┬──────────────────┬───────┘
           │                   │                  │
    High-Speed Rail          Taxis & Rides      City Buses
  (Meilan Underground)      (~30 mins to city)   (Direct routes)
           │
  High-speed ring loop around Hainan Island
  (Sanya in under 1.5 hours)

1. High-Speed Railway: The Meilan Railway Station is located directly underneath Terminal 1, connecting seamlessly via underground walkways to Terminal 2. The Hainan Eastern Ring High-Speed Railway links travelers directly from the airport to downtown Haikou in under 10 minutes and to Sanya in under 90 minutes.
2. City Express & Buses: Multiple airport express shuttle buses connect the airport to main urban districts, major hotel hubs, and university zones.
3. Road Access: The airport is connected directly to the S81 Meilan Airport Expressway and G98 Hainan Island Ring Expressway, allowing standard taxi or rideshare trips to reach downtown Haikou in approximately 30 minutes.

Duty-Free & Key Features

Haikou Meilan was the first airport in China to introduce an offshore island duty-free shopping complex.

• Haikou Meilan Airport Duty-Free Shop: Spanning tens of thousands of square meters across both terminals, it allows domestic air travelers departing Hainan to purchase tax-free luxury goods, cosmetics, electronics, and local products under China’s special Hainan duty-free allowance policies.
• Tropical Architecture: Both terminals emphasize natural lighting, indoor vegetation, and climate-conscious design that reflects Hainan’s island culture.

Key Operating Statistics

| Metric | Details |
| :— | :— |
| Airport Code | IATA: HAK | ICAO: ZJHK |
| Annual Passenger Capacity | Over 35 Million |
| Hub Carriers | Hainan Airlines (Home Base), Beijing Capital Airlines, Tianjin Airlines |
| Direct Destinations | Over 130 non-stop domestic and international routes |
| Key Regional Routes | Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo |