During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), Qingdao International Airport Group made significant strides in building a world-class international aviation hub. The seamless overnight transition to the new Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport marked a major milestone.

Infrastructure saw a breakthrough with the opening of Jiaodong airport, Shandong's first 4F-class international facility. It has an annual capacity of 35 million passengers and 500,000 metric tons of cargo. Its integrated transport center enables "zero-vertical-transfer" between high-speed rail, subway, and road systems.

Aviation has reached record highs. Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport now operates 219 routes connecting 131 cities globally, handling 41.4 percent of the province's passenger traffic and 42.5 percent of its air cargo.

The hub function strengthened significantly, facilitating 2.25 million transfer passengers annually, ranking 12th nationally and second among northern Chinese cities. Projections for 2025 estimate 26.8 million passengers (16th nationally), including 3.3 million international travelers (9th nationally).

Entering the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), the group will implement national and municipal aviation strategies, including Qingdao's three-year action plan for international hub development. It will prioritize safe operations while continuing to expand and optimize its route network. The focus is on enhancing hub connectivity, achieving qualitative improvements and rational quantitative growth, supporting Qingdao's development as an international integrated transport hub and a modern metropolis.

Qingdao International Airport Group makes significant strides in building a world-class international aviation hub. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]