Passengers wait in line to board a flight at Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport has handled 20.05 million passenger trips this year as of Sept 13, reaching the 20-million milestone 10 days earlier than in 2025.

Passenger traffic was up 4 percent year-on-year, with the growth rate two percentage points above the national average.

The airport recorded a particularly busy summer travel season. From July 1 to Aug 31, it handled 39,200 flights and 5.98 million passenger trips, up 6 percent year-on-year and setting a record for the period. Passenger traffic reached 3.1 million in August alone, exceeding 3 million in a single month for the first time.

To accommodate rising demand, the airport has strengthened coordination across flight operations, baggage handling and ground transportation while streamlining passenger services. Key indicators, including flight release and departure punctuality, received the Civil Aviation Administration of China's top A rating for eight consecutive months this year.

Its route network has also continued to expand, with more than 50 routes launched or increased in frequency. Flights to Seoul, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and London have become more frequent, while routes to Penang, Taichung and Cheongju have been added or resumed. The Qingdao-Vancouver service is scheduled to resume on Oct 2.

International travel has also maintained strong growth. From January to August, more than 438,000 foreign passengers entered China through the airport, up 34 percent year-on-year.