The Hainan Free Trade Port officially launched island-wide special customs operations on Dec 18.

At 1:40 am, Hainan Airlines Flight HU732 from Sydney landed at Haikou Meilan International Airport, carrying 275 passengers who became the first group of inbound travelers to Hainan’s capital city of Haikou in the wake of the launch.

Incoming passengers stream into the inspection desks at Haikou Meilan International Airport on Dec 18.

To ensure an efficient and smooth clearance, the Meilan immigration checkpoint implemented a range of measures. These included improved policy briefings and passenger flow notifications, extra inspections channels, optimized passenger guidance and more information desks.

Staff members help passengers complete their arrival cards at Haikou Meilan International Airport on Dec 18.

The checkpoint has also introduced smart facilities including multilingual AI screens and handheld translation devices, as well as intelligent processing terminals to further boost communications efficiency and streamline visa application procedures.

A young family gets ready to be inspected at Haikou Meilan International Airport on Dec 18.

Passengers complete their inspection at Haikou Meilan International Airport on Dec 18.