A new air route connecting Haikou, Hainan province, Yiwu, Zhejiang province, and Yantai, Shandong province opens on June 7. [Photo/zgyww.cn]

Shandong Airlines launched a new air route connecting Haikou, Hainan province, Yiwu, Zhejiang province, and Yantai, Shandong province on June 7.

In its first flight at 8:45 am, passenger plane 737-800 operated by Shandong Airlines took off from the Haikou Meilan International Airport and landed at the Yiwu Airport. About an hour later, the plane departed from Yiwu and headed to Yantai.

According to officials, Shandong Airlines will operate the Haikou-Yiwu-Yantai airline with Boeing B737-800 aircraft every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The new airline is expected to promote communication and cooperation in economy and tourism between the three cities.

Haikou is located in the northeastern part of Hainan Island. It is the political, economic, technological and cultural center and largest transportation hub in South China's Hainan province and boasts beautiful coastal scenery.

Yantai is located in the north of Shandong province, across the sea from Dalian. It is the third city in East China's Shandong province that passengers can go to directly from the Yiwu Airport.

Officials at the Yiwu Airport noted that in light of the COVID-19 epidemic, passengers should stay up to date on the latest requirements in epidemic prevention and control at their destinations and arrange their itineraries accordingly.