In the first half of this year alone, passenger traffic on Japan and South Korea flights reached 1.11 million, up 24 percent year-on-year.

The airport is also working to position itself as northern China's hub for fresh import transshipment, special cargo handling, and international transfers, with the goal of becoming Shandong's international air logistics center.

Four years after its successful transition, Qingdao airport stands at a new starting point, ready to embrace greater opportunities.