The rollout of the island-wide special customs operations on Dec 18 in Hainan Free Trade Port ushers in a new stage of Hainan province's development, unlocking freer flows of goods, capital, personnel and data under zero tariffs, low tax rates and a simplified tax system, executives and experts said.

They made the comments as the nation launched the major opening-up reform in the world's largest FTP by area, designating the tropical island, with a land area of over 30,000 square kilometers, as a special customs supervision zone.

Policy impact is already visible. At Haikou Meilan International Airport, Jia Green Chocolate Works (Hainan) Co, a joint venture chocolate producer based in the FTP, began shipping products to Beijing and Hanzhong, Shaanxi province, after completing customs clearance.

"We have already benefited from the special customs operations of Hainan FTP," said Wu Huijuan, general manager of the company's marketing department."For this batch of chocolate products, we have cut costs by about 10 percent."

The case underscores how streamlined procedures and duty policies are translating into lower logistics costs and faster market access via Hainan's airport hubs — early wins that validate the FTP's airport-led logistics pathways.

Xiao Faxuan, president of Hainan Airport Group, said airports in Hainan will act as pioneers in building an open hub for the FTP and are striving to forge an aviation gateway facing the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

"Leveraging the FTP as a fulcrum and aligning with the strategic goal of building a world-class airport enterprise, Hainan Airport Group will cultivate new quality productive forces by strengthening aircraft maintenance, expanding air logistics and exploring the low-altitude economy," Xiao said, adding that the group will establish a pioneering zone for international cooperation in new quality productive forces and a near-zero-carbon, integrated port-industry-city demonstration area.

"As the aerial gateway linking Hainan FTP with the rest of the world, all airports in the island will continue to enhance quality and efficiency, accelerate high-quality development, and build a world-class airport group that is professional, market-oriented and modern — growing in tandem with Hainan FTP," Xiao added.

Passenger traffic at Sanya Phoenix International Airport in Sanya, Hainan, has reached a new high this year. According to China Central Television, as of Saturday, the airport handled 133,599 take-offs and landings, up 7 percent year-on-year; passenger throughput reached 21.8 million, up 5.8 percent; and cargo throughput totaled 113,000 metric tons, up 16.3 percent.

Within this overall growth, international passenger volume reached 895,000, surging 46.6 percent year-on-year — a standout performance that underscores Hainan FTP's rising international appeal.

Xiao said the group is fully advancing Phase III expansion projects at Sanya Phoenix International Airport and Qionghai Boao International Airport to meet an expected surge in passenger traffic, while intensifying domestic and international route networks and accelerating the creation of a two-ocean aviation gateway hub.

He described FTP policies as an accelerator for the high-quality development of State-owned enterprises, citing liberalized air rights and duty-free treatment for value-added processing as "an exceptionally critical historical opportunity".

"In addition, we recognize the importance of deepening international cooperation," Xiao said."We will leverage air-rights liberalization to expand our international route network and, through professionalization, market-oriented reforms and digital upgrades enhance industrial-chain resilience and international competitiveness, thus laying a solid foundation for Hainan FTP's industrial upgrading, capacity elevation and Chinese modernization."

Xiao stressed the group will also prioritize technological advances. On accelerating technological innovation and cultivating new quality productive forces, Hainan airports will align closely with the FTP's overall plan and implement national strategies through technological empowerment.

He outlined plans to focus on frontier-technology applications and strengthen smart-airport construction. The group will also adopt new products and technologies, optimize passenger experience and upgrade service quality.

The company will deepen open collaboration by leveraging FTP policy advantages and strengthening ties with international hubs such as airports in Singapore and Hong Kong, introducing advanced technologies and management models.

Next year marks the start of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30).Xiao said Hainan Airport Group will continue to fully implement directives from the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council on deepening SOE reform and developing new quality productive forces, and translate them into measurable gains in network connectivity, service efficiency and green operations.

renqi@chinadaily.com.cn