The Qingdao government has launched a guideline to facilitate the development of the aviation industry, local officials announced at a recent news conference.

Public transport aviation and general aviation play an important role in improving the comprehensive transportation system, stimulating economic growth, adjusting the industrial structure, transforming the development mode and promoting social harmony, Qingdao authorities said.

Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport was put into operation in August of 2021. The 4F-level international airport, the highest class of airports capable of handling a variety of large aircrafts, is the first of its kind in Shandong province. It is expected to become a new gateway to China and break new ground in the city for the development of the civil aviation industry.

In 2021, a total of 138,700 flights took off and landed at the airport, up 9.8 percent year-on-year. Its passenger throughput reached 16.03 million, up 10.1 percent, while cargo throughput hit 237,600 metric tons, up 14.9 percent.

By 2025, the airport will have an annual handling capacity of 35 million passengers, 500,000 tons of cargo and 300,000 flights, according to its operation plan.

Since Qingdao was approved as a national general aviation industry comprehensive demonstration zone in 2017, the city's general aviation industry has gained competitiveness and international influence, and industrial development has begun to take shape.

Last year, the output value of Qingdao's general aviation industry was 4.47 billion yuan ($664.2 million), up 17.4 percent year-on-year.