Shanghai-Sanya passenger flights steadily resume

Flights traveling between Shanghai and Hainan province are resuming operations steadily, thanks to the stabilization of the COVID-19 pandemic and the further relaxation of epidemic prevention and control policies in Hainan, authorities said.

The number of passengers to Sanya, Hainan, from around the country increased by 93 percent from June 25 to 26, compared with the previous weekend, while the number of passengers to Haikou, Hainan's capital, increased by 92 percent, said online travel agency Qunar.com, one of China's leading online tourism platforms.

The Shanghai-Sanya passenger volume increased by a significant factor of 1.5 over the volume of the previous weekend, according to Qunar.com.

Hainan has long been a popular destination for Chinese tourists, especially Sanya, a coastal city at the southern tip of the island, dubbed by many as the oriental Hawaii.

There were 17 flights from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport to Sanya Phoenix International Airport from June 20 to 26, with a total of 3,946 seats. The flights were mainly operated by Juneyao Airlines and Shanghai Airlines, a subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines.

According to Ctrip, an online ticketing service company, the lowest price for a Shanghai-Sanya ticket will rise from about 700 yuan ($104.50) to more than 1,000 yuan starting July 1.

An official with Juneyao Airlines said that since Saturday, it has switched to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner for Shanghai-Sanya flights to increase passenger capacity.

Juneyao Airlines, in cooperation with the Sanya tourism promotion bureau, has launched a travel package product that covers tickets, hotel services and scenic spot admissions. It has also released a multiple round-trip air ticket package product that will be valid for the whole summer vacation period, the Juneyao official said.

"Shanghai and its surrounding cities have always been one of the key tourist sources for Sanya. We will provide more and higher-quality resources to ensure tourists have a better travel experience here," said Ye Jialin, director of the Sanya tourism promotion bureau.