On Aug 2, Qingdao Airport held a series of events under to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the opening of its first international routes, which marked a major milestone in the history of Qingdao's civil aviation development.

Qingdao Airport holds a series of events on Aug 2, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the opening of its first international routes. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

This year also marks the third anniversary of the launch of Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport. During the event, Qingdao Airport, in collaboration with Qingdao Airport Customs, Qingdao Airport Border Inspection, Shandong Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Qingdao Airlines, All Nippon Airways, and Korean Air, launched the "Qing Yi Fei" series of 30 convenience measures, which are aimed at enhancing the ease of travel, improving service experiences, offering benefits for international travelers, and fostering a new service ecosystem that is attractive both locally and globally, benefiting more people with improved civil aviation services. To enhance passenger engagement and experience, the event featured interactive areas for international routes and an exhibition and sales area for travel and cultural products and foods, where travelers could take photos, taste delicacies, learn about routes, and win lucky blind boxes.

In September 1994, the Qingdao to Osaka international passenger route was officially launched, becoming Shandong province's first international route. In December of the same year, the Qingdao to Seoul passenger route was also opened. These two international routes, launched in the same year, initiated a new chapter in Qingdao Airport's journey toward open cooperation and service to the local economy. Over the past 30 years, through the continued efforts of several generations of civil aviation professionals, Qingdao Airport has continuously expanded its international passenger and cargo routes, helping the Shandong Peninsula open up to the outside world. By 2019, the airport had opened 36 international and regional passenger routes and three cargo routes, reaching areas such as Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Americas, including 10 intercontinental and long-distance international routes.

Qingdao Airport holds a series of events on Aug 2, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the opening of its first international routes. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Following adjustments to pandemic policies, Qingdao's civil aviation market has rapidly resumed growth. From January to July this year, new routes to Nha Trang, Jeju, and Kuala Lumpur were launched, and the frequency of flights along routes to Seoul, Tokyo, Osaka, Kathmandu, and Hong Kong was increased. The number of international and regional passenger and cargo routes has rebounded to 30, with the Seoul express route ranking first nationwide in terms of flight volume. Both flight and passenger volumes for routes to Japan and South Korea rank third nationwide, while the passenger volume for Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) routes increased by 70 percent, creating an efficient and smooth route network that focuses on Japan and South Korea, intercontinental connectivity, and serving the SCO.

Meanwhile, with the concerted efforts of local customs, Border Inspection, Shandong Airlines, and China Eastern Airlines, Qingdao have led to the launching of direct flights connecting six cities - Chongqing, Wuhan, Hangzhou, and others - to Japan and South Korea via Qingdao, significantly improving transfer efficiency and convenience. In the first half of this year, Qingdao Airport handled 11,400 international and regional flights, a year-on-year increase of 122 percent; the international and regional passenger volume reached 1.27 million, a year-on-year increase of 206 percent, ranking eighth among Chinese cities; and the international and regional cargo and mail volume reached 58,200 metric tons, with substantial growth in all major aviation transport indicators.

This year marks the third anniversary of the launch of Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Standing at this new historical juncture, Qingdao Airport will take this anniversary as an opportunity, guided by the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, to focus on building the "tourism and cultural capital of the SCO" and achieving comprehensive coverage of major destinations in Japan and South Korea. Qingdao Airport aims to continue consolidating its role as a gateway to Japan and South Korea, expanding Southeast Asian and intercontinental routes, extending the international cargo market, and building a domestic and international transfer hub. These efforts will better meet the public's aspirations for quality air travel and contribute to the creation of a new platform for international cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, supporting Qingdao's higher-level opening-up.