Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport, the first 4F-level airport in East China's Shandong province, recently celebrated its first year of operations.

Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport is the first 4F-level airport in Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The new airport, which has the highest international rating, has improved Qingdao's global connectivity and injected vitality into the local economy, according to industry insiders.

Over the past year, the airport has overcome difficulties such as the impact of multiple rounds of COVID-19 pandemic outbreaks and promoted its development in the face of adversity.

The airport's hardware and software facilities are running smoothly, and its main air transport business has been steadily improved, causing a leap from high-quality construction to high-level operations.

Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport aims to provide passengers with the best services. [Photo/Qingdao Daily]

According to official data, the airport secured a total of 107,650 flights last year, which was 295 flights per day, with the peak reaching 508 flights on Sept 30, 2021.

In the past year, the airport has become a popular landmark highlighting the vitality of Qingdao's urban development. Aiming to become a world-class air hub in Northeast Asia and cement its role as a gateway for Japan and South Korea, the airport has reshaped the city's transportation, industry, layout and other essential resources, and continues to promote the city's progressive development.

Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport opens the first all-cargo flight to Los Angeles in April. [Photo/Qingdao Daily]

In the first half of this year, the airport added eight domestic passenger routes to Harbin, Dalian, Shenyang, and other cities. It also opened seven domestic passenger routes to Tongliao, Chizhou and other cities to cope with the surging passenger flow during summer. 

Moreover, a 5,100-square-meter special passageway for inbound flights from Macao has been built at the airport to ensure the resumption of air routes with Macao.

At present, the airport has 138 domestic passenger routes and five international passenger routes.

In 2021, the airport handled a total cargo throughput of 237,600 metric tons, up 14.9 percent year-on-year. The total throughput of international cargo was 96,300 tons, which significantly aided in maintaining the stability of global supply chains and industrial chains in the face of a severe COVID-19 pandemic scenario overseas.