Hainan FTP: Milan-Haikou cargo route opened for premium goods

On June 7th, an aircraft operated by China Southern Airlines, fully loaded with cosmetics, apparel, bags and other fashion goods made in Italy and Switzerland flew from Milan, Italy to Haikou Meilan International Airport. The completion of the maiden Milan-Haikou cargo flight means that now the thriving Hainan Free Trade Port, located in the southernmost part of China, boasts another international cargo route.

Photo by Yuan Chen / Hainan Daily

Before the route opened, premium overseas goods such as cosmetics, household goods, and other fashion products from Italy and Switzerland could only be transported to Hainan by sea transport or via multiple air transport connections, which generally took 7 to 60 days. The newly opened route now makes it possible for premium goods to be transported from factory floors to stores in Hainan in no more than 2 days, allowing significant savings in both time and operating cost.

The Milan-Haikou cargo flight route not only provides a direct and fast channel for trade and other exchanges between Hainan and Milan & other European destinations, it will also help in developing the Hainan Free Trade Port into a global duty-free shopping paradise and an international consumer center where you can “buy and sell commodities from all over the world”.