Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport welcomed its first transit passengers under China's new 24-hour direct transit policy on Nov 12, offering smooth international connections without border checks.

"It's incredibly convenient. I'm traveling to Japan without collecting my luggage or going through transit procedures," praised one passenger on flight SC4080 from Bangkok.

The policy, effective Nov 5, lets travelers with connecting flights within 24 hours transit through Qingdao without entry paperwork, making transfers much easier.

During the 2025 winter flight season, Qingdao airport has 435 international and regional weekly flights — a 5 percent year-on-year increase — expanding its reach to Japan, South Korea, and countries involved the Belt and Road Initiative.

The airport has boosted its role as a regional hub, with over 2 million passengers on Japan and South Korea routes in October, and 52 daily round-trip flights running on a "high-frequency shuttle" model. New routes to Daegu in South Korea and Japan's Osaka are planned to improve connections.

Southeast Asian routes have also grown, with passenger load factors at 84 percent, and new flights to Hanoi and Phnom Penh with over 90 percent occupancy. Russian traveler entries have more than doubled, helped by visa-free policies and the only direct Qingdao-Moscow flight in Shandong province.

According to immigration statistics, Qingdao airport has handled over 3 million entry-exit passengers this year, a 23.9 percent increase, with nearly 320,000 foreign travelers entering visa-free — making up over 70 percent of all international arrivals.

Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport welcomes its first transit passengers under China's expanded 24-hour direct transit policy on Nov 12. [Photo/Guanhai News]