Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport handled 1.31 million passenger trips to and from South Korea as of Aug 18, up 15 percent from the corresponding period in 2025.

This has solidified South Korea's position as the airport's largest source of inbound travelers, with a growing number of weekend vacationers embracing "Friday night flights to Qingdao" — a trend that has evolved from a novelty into a regular routine for cross-border travelers.

With 38 daily passenger flights between Qingdao and South Korea — including 34 to Seoul alone — the route now offers "bus-style" frequency, with services from 8 am to 10 pm averaging one flight per hour.

The Seoul route ranks second in China in both flight frequency and passenger volume, achieving an 88 percent load factor. The Busan service, operating four daily flights, recorded a 12 percent increase in flight volume and a 91 percent load factor year-on-year.

From Aug 27, Qingdao airport will launch the province's only direct service to Cheongju, operating twice a week.

China's visa-free transit policy has been a key driver, with extended 240-hour stays and streamlined border procedures. As of Aug 18, the airport recorded 410,000 inbound foreign passengers, up 32 percent year-on-year. South Korean travelers accounted for 268,000 arrivals, with nearly 90 percent entering visa-free.

Qingdao airport now operates 38 daily flights to South Korea, with visa-free policies boosting inbound Korean arrivals by 20 percent this year. [Photo/Guanhai News]