On Aug 2, Qingdao Airport held a series of events under to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the opening of its first international routes, which marked a major milestone in the history of Qingdao's civil aviation development.

Qingdao Airport holds a series of events on Aug 2, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the opening of its first international routes. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

This year also marks the third anniversary of the launch of Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport. During the event, Qingdao Airport, in collaboration with Qingdao Airport Customs, Qingdao Airport Border Inspection, Shandong Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Qingdao Airlines, All Nippon Airways, and Korean Air, launched the "Qing Yi Fei" series of 30 convenience measures, which are aimed at enhancing the ease of travel, improving service experiences, offering benefits for international travelers, and fostering a new service ecosystem that is attractive both locally and globally, benefiting more people with improved civil aviation services. To enhance passenger engagement and experience, the event featured interactive areas for international routes and an exhibition and sales area for travel and cultural products and foods, where travelers could take photos, taste delicacies, learn about routes, and win lucky blind boxes.

In September 1994, the Qingdao to Osaka international passenger route was officially launched, becoming Shandong province's first international route. In December of the same year, the Qingdao to Seoul passenger route was also opened. These two international routes, launched in the same year, initiated a new chapter in Qingdao Airport's journey toward open cooperation and service to the local economy. Over the past 30 years, through the continued efforts of several generations of civil aviation professionals, Qingdao Airport has continuously expanded its international passenger and cargo routes, helping the Shandong Peninsula open up to the outside world. By 2019, the airport had opened 36 international and regional passenger routes and three cargo routes, reaching areas such as Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Americas, including 10 intercontinental and long-distance international routes.