Qingdao Airport has handled 25.56 million passengers as of December 21, 2024, marking a 22.6% increase compared to 2023 and setting a new record since its opening. Annual passenger traffic is expected to exceed 26 million, marking a significant milestone.

Qingdao Airport has been actively accelerating the growth of its core aviation business this year, achieving record-breaking performance across multiple metrics. Annual flight movements, passenger throughput, and cargo volume are projected to surpass 190,000 flights, 26 million passengers, and 270,000 tons, with year-over-year increases of 3.9%, 3.2%, and 9.8%, respectively. Qingdao Airport's passenger growth ranked sixth nationwide during the summer travel peak. Daily flights and passenger numbers stabilized at 600 flights and 90,000 passengers, with a single-day peak of 98,000 passengers.

Qingdao Airport has solidified its position as a gateway hub for Northeast Asia and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) region. The airport has reopened or launched new routes to destinations such as Jeju, Fukuoka, Nha Trang, and Kuala Lumpur, while increasing flight frequencies to Seoul, Busan, Osaka, Tokyo, and Nha Trang. Notably, the Qingdao-Seoul Express flight line now leads the nation in flight volume, with Qingdao ranking third in China for passenger traffic to and from Japan and South Korea. 44 flights commute between Qingdao and Japan or South Korea daily, offering a "public bus-like" frequency to meet the demands of both business and leisure travelers. Visa-free policies implemented for South Korea and Japan have further boosted international passenger traffic. As of December 21, Qingdao Airport has served 2.58 million international and regional passengers in 2024, doubling last year’s figures with a weekly growth rate of 14.6%. The introduction of visa-free entry for South Korean travelers on November 8 has facilitated over 55,000 foreign arrivals at Qingdao Airport, an 81.3% year-over-year increase, with 62.5% utilizing the visa waiver. Passenger traffic on SCO routes including Moscow and Dubai has grown by 20% year-over-year. Meanwhile, the Qingdao–Kathmandu route, the only direct flight between northern China and Nepal, continues to attract travelers, enhancing Qingdao's reputation as the SCO's Tourism and Cultural Capital.

Qingdao Airport has advanced its "dual-hub" strategy to evolve from airport-centric collaborations to broader city partnerships. Since 2023, it has signed agreements with 15 domestic and international airports—including Harbin, Shenzhen, Wuhan, and Chongqing—to co-develop high-frequency routes offering over 10 daily flights and interline products. These efforts have increased the share of express domestic flights from 22% to 53%, driving a 20% rise in domestic passenger volume.