The general secretary of People's Government of Hainan Province, Lu Zhiyuan, said in a press conference on March 23 that, there will be a new airport in Sanya Hainan starting construction this year, which is planned to be put into use in 2020.

On March 23, People's Government of Hainan Province held an International Tourism Island Development Press Conference in Boao. Lu Zhiyuan revealed in the conference that, the new airport in Sanya would be constructed as an international airline hub.

It is reported that the traffic of Sanya airport in 2016 exceeded 17 million for the first time. There are over 40 airlines having operations in Sanya Phoenix Airport, including about 16 international and regional airlines. Sanya has more than 150 air routes, links with over 90 cities with flight. Its routes network covers major domestic provincial capitals, major tourist cities and Hong Kong, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, Mongolia, Central Asia, East Asia, and some countries and regions in Southeastern Asia.

In order to respond to "One Belt and One Road" initiative, Sanya Phoenix Airport is positioned as the gateway airport facing Maritime Silk Route. In recent years, the aviation industry in Hainan recorded a rapid growth. Haikou Meilan Airport's traffic in 2016 totaled 18.8 million, representing a year-on-year growth of 16.3%. Lu Zhiyuan said that, Boao Airport's construction was finalized last year; Phase III reconstruction and expansion of Sanya Phoenix Airport and Phase II expansion of Boao Airport will be completed this year. For the next year, Phase II expansion of Meilan Airport will be completed, and the construction of Danzhou Airport would be accelerated.