Aug 12 marked the fourth anniversary of the airport's relocation and operation. As part of China's newest batch of 4F-class international airports — and the only one of its kind in Shandong province — Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport has cemented its position as a key aviation hub in China.

In the first half of this year, the airport recorded 92,000 flights and handled 12.6 million passengers. International and regional passenger traffic rose 23 percent year-on-year to 1.56 million.

Flights and passenger traffic to Japan and South Korea ranked third in the country, with the Qingdao–Seoul express route operating more frequently than any other route in China.

To better support the city's opening-up, Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport has been expanding its international route network, now offering 25 passenger routes to destinations overseas.

Its network in Japan and South Korea has been further expanded, now covering nine cities including Seoul, Busan, Cheongju, Jeju, Tokyo and Osaka. With 55 daily round trips — one every 30 minutes — its flight frequency ranks among the highest in China.