Shymkent-Sanya-Singapore new fifth freedom air route takes off

SCAT Airlines from Kazakhstan launched its inaugural flight on the Shymkent-Sanya-Singapore route — taking off on Oct 20 from Sanya Phoenix International Airport, located outside Sanya city, the coastal tourist destination located on China's southernmost Hainan province.

The new route, based on the internationally recognized fifth freedom rights — which allow an airline to carry passengers and cargo between foreign countries as part of a service connecting the airline's own country — establishes Sanya as a key transit hub.

It links Central Asia, the Hainan Free Trade Port and Southeast Asia, thereby expanding the international flight network of the Hainan FTP.

International and domestic travelers on the Shymkent-Sanya-Singapore fifth freedom route flight arrive at Sanya Phoenix International Airport on Oct 20. [Photo/Sanya Daily]

The route operates twice a week. Before the seasonal schedule change, flights are on Tuesdays and Saturdays. After the change, they'll run on Thursdays and Saturdays.

At the inaugural flight launch event, Sanya Phoenix International Airport and the Sanya Tourism Board signed a memorandum of understanding. They plan to enhance their cooperation by aligning airline capacity with market development efforts — aiming to attract more global visitors and support the steady operation of Sanya's international routes.