On April 7, Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport recorded more than 1 million international and regional passengers for the year, reaching the milestone 23 days earlier than in 2025.

Daily international passenger traffic has averaged 10,300, up 25 percent year-on-year, with an average load factor of 77 percent, up 7.2 percentage points compared to last year. The airport has also served 180,000 inbound foreign travelers, a 55 percent increase, of whom 80 percent entered under visa-free policies.

Qingdao now operates 27 international and regional passenger routes — six more than last year. Its position as a Northeast Asia gateway remains solid, with the Qingdao–Seoul express route offering 30 daily flights. In Southeast Asia, the airport launched Shandong's first direct route to Penang, Malaysia, and increased frequencies to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Bangkok. Overall flights to Southeast Asia have grown 166.7 percent year-on-year.

Under the dual-hub strategy, Qingdao has expanded connecting flights such as Changchun-Qingdao-Sydney/Melbourne and London-Qingdao-Changsha, linking 38 domestic cities with international destinations. Its local Qing Yifei service brand has been upgraded with premium economy offerings and local dining perks. In the first quarter of this year, international transfer passengers reached 189,000, up 37 percent from a year ago.

Looking ahead, Qingdao airport aims to further strengthen its role as a regional aviation hub connecting Northeast Asia, Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states, and RCEP countries, enhancing both route networks and the passenger experience.

Qingdao airport now operates 27 international and regional passenger routes — six more than last year. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]