The passenger throughput of Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport totals 12.38 million in 2020. [Photo/VCG]

Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport handled over 12.38 million passengers and 146,600 tons of cargo by the end of 2020, local media outlets reported.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, local authorities reduced the number of international flights and added domestic flights. The number of domestic flights increased by 22.5 percent year-on-year. In September 2020, passenger throughput recovered to 97 percent of the same period last year.

In addition, the city actively expanded its cargo market during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, Jinan opened nine freight routes. The cargo throughput increased by 8.4 percent year-on-year. For international cargo transport, the city opened two flights a week to Los Angeles, two flights a week to New York, as well as four flights a week to Belgium.