China Southern Airlines has launched the first intercontinental route between Sanya and London this week, with an inaugural flight carring 214 passengers from Sanya's Phoenix International Airport, on the 12th July.
The schedule for the new service will see the China Southern Airlines' flight CZ651 depart Sanya at 13:00 CST every Thursday and Sunday, to arrives in London at 18:45 local time. The return journey, flight number CZ652 departs London at 22:10 local time, arriving back home in Sanya at 16:20 local time. Normally scheduled flight time is around 12 hours and 45 minutes.
Andrew Ould from The British Consulate said, "Hainan is facilitating the construction of China's free-trade zone. I believe that the launch of the direct flight between Sanya and London will help attract more visitors from the UK to spend their holidays in Sanya and UK-based companies to invest and establish facilities in the city."
Sanya has experienced an impressive growth in tourism over recent times, welcoming approximately 450,000 visitors during 2016, rising to 700,000 last year. Sanya has launched 34 international routes serving 25 destinations such as the UK, Russia, South Korea, and Japan to further develop global connections to the free-trade zone.
