Hainan island is expected to enjoy favorable policies that will help it increase the number of international flights to and from the southern province after gaining approval from China's aviation authority to host a pilot traffic reform program.

　　The recognition, which reflects China's efforts to gradually open its skies, will help boost both tourism and economic development in the region. In addition, Hainan's reforms may lead to future actions in the country's aviation sector, industry insiders predict.

　　Though officials in charge of the reform declined to specify what kind of favorable policies will be given, they said the reform will include simplifying procedures to approve new flights.

　　"A key breakthrough might be that Hainan will be able to hold more international flights than the number regulated by the bilateral air service agreements signed between China and other countries," said an official close to the reform.Usually, flight numbers are strictly controlled within air service agreements signed between China and other countries, under which both countries are granted the same number of flights.

　　"Now, an increasing number of countries around the world tend to allow foreign carriers to operate more international flights to and from the country than fixed by the agreements, hoping that can help boost their local economy," said Chen Kewen, an official with Hainan Airlines Co Ltd.

　　According to Chen, European countries have adopted an "open sky" policy which encourages air carriers to offer more services. Other countries like the United States and Singapore have followed suit.

　　A recent meeting among senior officials with both the Civil Aviation Administration of China and the Hainan government drafted a plan to start two long-haul international routes and another two heading for nearby countries at the island's two international airports before the year's end, according to the Hainan Daily.