Haikou Meilan International Airport welcomes first eligible travelers as China expands 24-hour direct transit without inspection to more airports on Nov 5. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Keith Michael David, a US citizen, was among the first travelers to use a new 24-hour direct transit policy at Haikou Meilan International Airport on Wednesday.

David, who arrived in Haikou from Singapore, transferred directly to the departure lounge for his connecting flight to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region after a security check and identity verification, bypassing the standard immigration inspection.

"This transfer method is so convenient," he said. "I didn't need to collect my luggage or go through immigration procedures."

Haikou Meilan International Airport welcomes first eligible travelers as China expands 24-hour direct transit without inspection to more airports on Nov 5. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The streamlined process is part of a national policy expansion announced by China's National Immigration Administration on Monday. Effective on Wednesday, the program added 10 international airports, including Haikou Meilan International Airport, to the list of ports offering 24-hour direct transit without immigration checks. The policy applies to passengers with confirmed onward international flight tickets within 24 hours who do not leave the airport.

Clear "connecting flights" signs guide passengers through Haikou Meilan International Airport's terminal. Eligible travelers can follow the signs to the international transit area, verify their identity, and proceed to their departure gate without completing entry procedures or collecting checked baggage.

Haikou Meilan International Airport welcomes first eligible travelers as China expands 24-hour direct transit without inspection to more airports on Nov 5. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

To ensure the policy's smooth implementation,  and procedures. They installed Meilan immigration authorities have upgraded facilitiesnew signage, enhanced the transit system, conducted equipment tests, and opened a dedicated transit lane. The station also trained airline staff, distributed information cards, and coordinated with provincial tourism, foreign affairs, and commerce departments.

Haikou Meilan International Airport welcomes first eligible travelers as China expands 24-hour direct transit without inspection to more airports on Nov 5. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"The 24-hour direct transit policy will attract more passengers to transfer through Haikou and significantly reduce clearance time," said Kuang Guoren, head of the Meilan exit and entry frontier inspection department. "This is conducive to promoting international exchanges and cooperation for the Hainan Free Trade Port."

Haikou Meilan International Airport offers 25 transit routes and has handled over 6,600 international transit passengers this year.