A batch of clothing cargo departing from Milan, Italy, completes air-to-air waybill-change transit service and is loaded onto a Hainan Airlines flight to fly to Hong Kong, on December 9, 2025. Photo: Courtesy of Haikou Meilan International Airport

The Haikou Meilan International Airport in South China's Hainan Province on Tuesday completed its first international air-to-air 'waybill-change' transit service to increase transit efficiency, a key step in the island province's efforts to innovate its air-cargo transit model and strengthen its position as an international logistics hub, according to a statement the Haikou Meilan International Airport Co sent to the Global Times on Tuesday.

Under the supervision of Haikou Meilan Airport Customs, a consignment of garments that began its journey in Milan, Italy, underwent a bill-exchange procedure at the Meilan Airport and was successfully rebooked onto a subsequent flight to Hong Kong, according to the airport's statement.

The operation was the first practical implementation of the "air‑to‑air transit waybill change" at the Hainan Free Trade Port, marking a major operational breakthrough for the island's aviation cargo transit capabilities ahead of the island-wide special customs operations scheduled to take effect on December 18 as a key step in China's efforts to increase economic openness, said the airport.

The operation followed a memorandum of understanding signed in September between the Hainan Airport Group and the Airport Authority Hong Kong aimed at boosting air logistics cooperation. 

Industry observers said that the successful trial could be an important component of the logistics framework needed for bolstering Hainan's role as a regional air cargo hub. 

The air-transit "waybill exchange" model allows cargo to be transported across two or more airlines' flights with separate waybills for different legs, instead of the traditional "one airway waybill to destination" approach. 

This practice enables shippers and forwarders to optimize combinations of inbound and outbound flights, supplement available airlift, unlock otherwise idle capacity, reduce logistics costs and increase transport flexibility, according to the Meilan airport.

The model enables more convenient logistics connectivity, expanding routing options, lowering transport costs and helping to better utilize available international cargo capacity at the Meilan Airport, said the airport's statement. 

According to the Meilan Airport, the successful trial was made possible by proactive customs collaboration and close coordination among the airport, airlines and freight forwarders. A dedicated team was assigned to guide the procedures in the warehouse, ensuring that the entire process—from cargo check-in to transfer and release—was fast and smooth, achieving zero-delay transit, said the airport's statement. 

Airport officials said that the new transit services will provide strong support for the high-quality development of the aviation logistics industry and the island's export-oriented economy and help the Hainan Free Trade Port open new international markets. 

International air cargo services at the Haikou Meilan International Airport have grown steadily this year. As of Tuesday, the airport's total transit-cargo throughput had reached 8,191 tons, an increase of 99.5 percent from 2024. International transit tonnage stood at 7,500 tons, up 86.7 percent year-on-year.



Global Times