The new Jiaodong International Airport will bring about infinite opportunities for the development of aviation logistics in surrounding areas, according to industry insiders, as Qingdao plans to transfer its air hub from the Liuting International Airport to the new airport.

A number of key logistics projects invested by industry giants from both home and abroad, including Sinotrans Ltd, Mapletree Logistics, Deppon Express and Suning Corporation, are now under construction at the Jiaodong Airport Logistics Base, according to local officials.

An aerial view of the Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport [Photo/qingdaonews.com]

"Our cold-chain warehousing base began trial operations in January of this year. Now more than 80 percent of warehouses have been rented out," said Wang Gang, a manager from the Yupei e-commerce cold-chain warehouse located in the Qingdao Airport Comprehensive Bonded Zone.

The cold-chain warehousing base, with a total of $100 million in investment, covers an area of 98,666 square meters and consists of a large-scale modern distribution operation center, a modern cold chain and constant temperature storage distribution center, an information processing center, and a regional settlement center.

Not far from the west side of Yupei e-commerce cold-chain warehousing is another key logistics project invested by a local company. The storage facility has received a total of 350 million yuan ($53.55 million) in investment and measures about 53,333 square meters. It has already begun operating.

"The storage facility is a comprehensive service platform for the supply chain of air freight cross-border e-commerce, serving import and export traders and processing plants of aquatic products, meat, fruits, and vegetables at home and abroad," said Wang Fangzhuo, a manager of the project.

"Another three large-scale logistic projects are now under construction," said Sun Zubin, an official of the Qingdao Jiaodong Airport Economic Demonstration Zone Management Committee.

More measures will be launched to support the growth of the aviation logistics sector, according to Sun.