Haikou Meilan International Airport, under the umbrella of Hainan Holdings, has officially activated its expedited fast-track lane for international transfers, allowing eligible passengers transiting within 24 hours to bypass border inspection procedures entirely. The newly launched system enables travelers to complete the entire verification process in mere seconds by simply scanning their identification documents, boarding pass, and undergoing a quick facial recognition check at the automated gate. This seamless operation delivers a true "walk-in, walk-out" experience, significantly streamlining the passenger transit journey and reinforcing the airport's role as a robust gateway for Hainan Free Trade Port's high-level international openness.

In the traditional international transfer scenario, passengers arriving for a connection were required to navigate through a designated corridor to the immigration counter, complete the transit formalities, and have a transit stamp affixed to their passports. However, a pivotal shift occurred on November 3, 2025, when the National Immigration Administration announced that starting November 5, ten international airports, including Haikou Meilan, would be designated as ports permitting 24-hour direct transit without the need for exit-entry border inspection procedures. Under this policy, passengers holding international connecting tickets with a layover under 24 hours, who remain airside and proceed directly to a third country or region, are exempt from these standard checks.

To facilitate the implementation of this 24-hour visa-free transit policy, Meilan Airport initially deployed a temporary international transfer verification system coupled with manual checks. While this interim solution ensured the orderly operation of transfer services, it was plagued by issues such as lengthy queues, cumbersome procedures, and a lack of real-time data synchronization among various parties, ultimately limiting both the passenger experience and the airport's transfer capacity. The newly introduced rapid channel integrates automated document recognition, boarding pass scanning, and facial recognition into a single, cohesive system. This innovation enables efficient data collection and compliance verification for 24-hour transit passengers, dramatically cutting down waiting times and unlocking the full benefits of the policy.

Recognizing the diverse needs of all travelers, Meilan Airport has also retained its manual inspection lanes to accommodate special groups, such as elderly passengers or those traveling with young children, ensuring a balance between efficient clearance and a considerate service approach. Notably, on August 3, the airport's international and regional passenger throughput for 2026 surpassed the one-million mark a remarkable 45 days earlier than it did in 2025, underscoring the vibrant growth momentum of Hainan Free Trade Port's aviation market. As of August 17, 2026, Meilan Airport has successfully rolled out through-check-in baggage services to multiple destinations, including Hong Kong, Macau, Auckland, Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Jakarta, Dubai, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, and Melbourne.

Looking ahead, Meilan Airport plans to collaborate closely with airlines and various joint inspection units to broaden the scope of its international through-check-in flight network, extending the convenience of the 24-hour transit visa-free policy to a wider array of passengers. Concurrently, the airport is committed to advancing the digital transformation of its entire international transfer process, leveraging smart port technologies to enhance service quality and efficiency, with the ultimate goal of positioning itself as a premier, efficient, and traveler-friendly international air transit hub.