HNA to expand Hainan's air passages to outside world

An Airbus A330 jet plane of Hainan Airlines of HNA Group takes off from the Shenzhen Baoan International Airport in Shenzhen city, South China's Guangdong province. [Photo/IC]

HNA Group, the parent company of Hainan Airlines, plans to launch 40 new international air routes connecting Hainan with the outside world in five years, according to company officials.   

The conglomerate group, which celebrated its 25th anniversary on May 2, will also make efforts to help bring Hainan's total international air routes to 100 in three to five years, making Hainan an international hub.                        

In addition, HNA has drafted plans to further enhance development of infrastructure, offshore duty-free shops, airport transport, education and medical service and high-efficiency tropical featured agriculture. All these efforts will help build a new and beautiful Hainan, said company officials.                     

HNA operates 1,250 aircraft on about 1,000 routes connecting more than 260 cities around the globe. Haikou-based HNA, which made its first flight in 1993, has become a transnational giant boasting 1.5 trillion yuan ($235.7 billion) of assets and an asset-liability ratio of 59 percent. With about 430,000 employees at home and abroad, HNA entered the world's Fortune 500 ranking list in 2015, moving from 464th to 170th in 2017.                           

In 25 years, HNA has developed seven world-class industries including aviation, hospitality, container leasing, aircraft leasing, airport services, flight catering and IT sales. Through cultivation and acquisition, it has developed 15 world-class brands such as the country's only five-star Skytrax company Hainan Airlines, Gategroup and Swissport, which provide diversified comprehensive quality services.       

In the past five years, it had opened more than 70 international routes linking China with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, transporting 11 million passengers.

HNA companies around the country paid a total of 61 billion yuan in tax in the past 25 years and have also actively performed their corporate social responsibilities. Since 1993, HNA has launched more than 100 public welfare and charity programs involving 10 billion yuan charity funds. With its support, for instance, more than 7,000 cataract victims at home and abroad have regained sight and about 300,000 locals in Hainan now have access to sweet water from wells developed by the group.