Qingdao airport surges with Japan, South Korea passengers
With the implementation of visa-free entry policies for Japan and South Korea, Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport has seen a continuous surge in international passenger traffic.
According to official statistics, as of March 23, the number of foreign arrivals reached 97,700, a year-on-year increase of 43.3 percent. Among them, South Korean passengers accounted for 71,800, up by 45.6 percent, while Japanese passengers reached 7,600, an increase of 51.1 percent.
To further support economic, trade, and tourism exchanges between China, Japan, and South Korea, Qingdao airport is collaborating with airlines to take advantage of the seasonal schedule changes by increasing flight frequencies, expanding transfer services, and enhancing transit experiences. By strengthening its role as a gateway to Japan and South Korea, the airport is injecting new momentum into regional development.
Shandong Airlines has increased its Qingdao–Seoul Express flights from 12 to 14 round-trip flights per day starting March 30. Additionally, South Korea's Jin Air will resume its Qingdao–Seoul service on May 30, operating two daily round trips, which is expected to bring the total number of Qingdao–Seoul flights to 35 round trips per day, greatly enhancing travel options for passengers.
Qingdao Airlines has increased its Qingdao–Osaka route from six to 14 flights per week starting March 30. Meanwhile, China Eastern Airlines will launch its first-ever Qingdao–Osaka route on April 12, operating on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Currently, Qingdao airport's Japan and Korea routes are planned to operate 53 daily flights, covering 10 key cities including Seoul, Busan, Jeju, Tokyo, and Osaka. The increasing flight density has reached a new high and now ranks among the top airports in northern China.
With the implementation of visa-free entry policies for Japan and South Korea, Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport sees a continuous surge in international passenger traffic. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]