Qingdao has been steadily expanding its international and regional air route network this year, with 29 passenger routes now in operation. The resumption of the Vancouver route in October marks another step in the city's push to strengthen global connectivity and foster deeper international ties.

From January to August, Qingdao Airport handled 2.44 million international and regional passengers, a year-on-year increase of 11%, ranking 10th among all Chinese airports. International and regional traffic accounted for 13% of total passenger throughput, up 0.8 percentage points from the previous year. According to statistics from the Qingdao Airport Border Inspection Station under the Shandong General Station of Immigration Inspection, the airport saw over 438,000 inbound foreign travelers, a 34% surge, with visa-free entries comprising 80% of that figure.

An airport serves as a city's gateway to the outside world and a vital engine for regional economic growth. Every takeoff and landing impacts not only passenger convenience but also industrial development, trade cooperation, and overall openness. This past summer, daily passenger traffic at Qingdao Airport routinely exceeded 100,000, with monthly throughput surpassing 3 million for the first time. International and regional passenger numbers emerged as a key growth driver.

During the summer travel peak (July to August), Qingdao Airport ranked 16th nationwide in total passenger volume and 9th in international and regional passenger volume. Its average load factor and international load factor placed 7th and 2nd respectively among airports with annual throughput exceeding 10 million passengers. International and regional single-day passenger numbers peaked at 13,100, setting a new record since the airport's relocation.

These achievements reflect enhanced operational efficiency, optimized services, and deeper integration of aviation with tourism. Behind the numbers lies the continued expansion of the international and regional route network. Qingdao Airport now operates 29 international and regional passenger routes served by 16 domestic and foreign airlines, with an improving passenger mix. The dual-engine growth pattern is taking shape: the Korean market remains stable with incremental gains, while the Southeast Asian market is accelerating rapidly.

The year 2026 marks the start of China's 15th Five-Year Plan period. The recently released Civil Aviation Development Plan for this period, jointly issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Transport, calls for building a high-quality, efficient aviation service system. The plan emphasizes popularization and internationalization, aiming to create a resilient, convenient, and inclusive air transport network that supports domestic demand and high-level opening-up. This presents a strategic window for Qingdao to expand its international route network.

In the city's 15th Five-Year Plan, "enhancing aviation hub capacity" is listed as a priority for the next five years. The plan includes steadily expanding key Northeast Asian routes, opening and increasing flights to core Southeast Asian markets, resuming long-haul intercontinental routes in an orderly manner, improving domestic connectivity, and actively developing transfer routes. It also calls for strengthening cargo networks through coordinated development of freighter aircraft and passenger belly cargo, and building an international air logistics hub.

Korea: Cementing the Foundation of International Passenger Traffic

Qingdao's geographical proximity to Korea has made it one of China's most connected cities with the country. Routes to Korea account for over half of both flight frequency and passenger volume at Qingdao Airport's international and regional market. From January to August, flights between Qingdao and Korea reached 8,970, carrying 1.4 million passengers, up 3% and 15% year-on-year respectively.

On August 27, the direct route between Qingdao and Cheongju, Korea resumed operations. "Previously, traveling to Cheongju required a high-speed rail transfer from Seoul. Now with direct flights, I save significant time, which is very convenient for business travel," said Ms. Li, a frequent traveler engaged in China-Korea trade, at the check-in counter.

The Korean market now operates at high frequency with an average of 41 daily flights, covering Seoul, Daegu, Busan, and Cheongju. This precise reach into Korea's core economic regions and consumer markets further consolidates Qingdao's position as a "bridgehead" for China-Korea exchanges, creating an efficient air corridor for bilateral trade and people-to-people connections.

The dense route network has transformed the physical distance between the two countries into a time advantage. A 90-minute flight makes "cross-border visits" effortless, powering business exchanges, commuting, and short trips. Qingdao-Seoul operations average 36 daily flights, with departure times spanning from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., essentially offering hourly service. The Seoul route ranks second nationwide in flight frequency and passenger volume, with an 88% load factor and nearly 5,000 daily passengers, some operated by wide-body aircraft for an enhanced travel experience.

"Flying from Seoul to Qingdao is even faster and more convenient than some domestic Korean routes," is a common sentiment among Korean travelers, underscoring the core advantage of Qingdao Airport's Korea routes. The Busan route maintains a stable four flights per day schedule. Routes to Busan, Daegu, and Cheongju are exclusively operated from this province.

Driven by visa-free policies, short flight times, cultural proximity, and cost-effective travel options, Korea has become Qingdao's largest source of foreign tourists. The trend of Korean young professionals "flying to Qingdao after work on Friday" has shifted from novelty to routine, illustrating the dynamic people-to-people exchanges between the two nations. Data from the Qingdao Airport Border Inspection Station shows that Korean inbound travelers exceeded 280,000 from January to August, up 20% year-on-year.

Southeast Asia: A New Engine for Passenger Growth

Supported by visa-free policies and deepening China-ASEAN economic cooperation, Qingdao Airport's Southeast Asian market has shown robust growth. Direct flights to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City were launched starting December 2025, with Hanoi operating six weekly flights and Ho Chi Minh City four weekly flights. This expanding network has made travel and business exchanges between Qingdao and Vietnam's major cities increasingly efficient.

Vietnamese inbound passenger numbers have surged six-fold this year, the fastest growth among Southeast Asian countries. Since August 20, Vietnamese citizens holding ordinary passports with confirmed itinerary and connecting tickets can enter visa-free through 65 open ports, including Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport, for stays up to 240 hours. This transit visa-free policy has greatly facilitated tourism, business, visits, and family reunions for Vietnamese travelers, likely attracting more business people and tourists to enter or transfer through Qingdao.

Qingdao and Malaysia have also deepened practical cooperation in recent years. On March 31, the direct route between Qingdao and Penang, Malaysia was launched—the first direct flight between Shandong Province and Penang, and the first direct connection between a city in northern China and the Malaysian city. The 6.5-hour direct flight reduces travel time by nearly half compared to previous connecting options, allowing travelers to journey from Qingdao's red-tiled roofs and green trees to a Southeast Asian getaway within a day.

In April, the Malaysian Influencers Association brought local influencers and fans to Qingdao for immersive cultural and tourism exploration. Sun Yongxin, president of the association, noted that the Qingdao-Penang route has accelerated cultural exchanges and pledged to continue producing quality content to attract more Malaysian tourists to Qingdao.

Qingdao Airport now serves seven Southeast Asian destinations: Bangkok in Thailand, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in Vietnam, Kuala Lumpur and Penang in Malaysia, Singapore, and Phnom Penh in Cambodia. During the summer peak, passenger volume to Southeast Asia grew 34% year-on-year. The region's share of Qingdao Airport's international market has climbed from 12% in 2025 to 20%, making it a vital engine for passenger growth alongside the Korean market, forming a mutually reinforcing north-south growth pattern.

Intercontinental and Regional Routes Continue to Expand

On the intercontinental front, Qingdao Airport maintains stable operations on four long-haul routes to Melbourne, Sydney, Moscow, and London, all except Sydney being exclusively operated from Shandong Province. From January to August, these intercontinental routes carried 160,000 passengers.

Starting October 2, the direct Qingdao-Vancouver route will resume, operating once weekly on Fridays. This will become the only direct passenger route to North America in Shandong Province, adding significant momentum to Qingdao and the province's connectivity with the continent and their foreign trade and people-to-people exchanges.

Routes to Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Taichung cover four destinations with an average of seven daily flights. During the summer peak, passenger volume to these regions grew 9% year-on-year. Qingdao Airport continues to optimize flight services for cross-strait routes, fostering cultural exchanges, economic cooperation, and people-to-people bonds across the strait, building a platform for deeper integration.

On July 23, the direct route between Qingdao and Taichung resumed, operating once weekly on Thursdays with a flight time of approximately 2.5 hours. The route saw strong market response with the inaugural flight quickly selling out and load factors approaching 100%. Qingdao Airport now operates dual destinations in Taiwan—Taichung and Taipei—with 10 weekly round-trip flights, facilitating family visits, tourism, and business exchanges across the strait.

These efforts underscore Qingdao's commitment to establishing itself as a world-class international aviation hub, supporting broader opening-up and economic cooperation with partners around the globe.