Discovering Another Side of Chinese Aviation
My first flight with Qingdao Airlines, aboard an Airbus A320neo from Chengdu to Zhengzhou on 22 October 2026.
China has one of the largest and most fascinating aviation markets in the world. While international travellers are familiar with Air China, China Eastern and China Southern, the country is also home to dozens of smaller airlines that rarely attract attention outside China.
As an aviation enthusiast, I always enjoy discovering these lesser-known carriers. For me, flying is not simply about getting from one destination to another. Every airline has its own history, identity and place in the aviation industry.
On 22 October 2026, during my travels through China, I had the opportunity to add another Chinese airline to my personal flight logbook: Qingdao Airlines.
About Qingdao Airlines
Qingdao Airlines (青岛航空) is a Chinese airline headquartered in Qingdao, a coastal city in Shandong Province, eastern China.
The airline was established in 2013 and operated its inaugural commercial flight on 26 April 2014, connecting Qingdao with Chengdu.
Unlike China’s three major airline groups, Qingdao Airlines entered the market as a relatively small regional competitor, aiming to connect Chinese cities while gradually developing an international network.
Some interesting facts about the airline:
- Founded: 2013
- First commercial flight: 26 April 2014
- Headquarters: Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
- Main operating base: Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport (TAO)
- IATA code: QW
- ICAO code: QDA
- Fleet: Airbus A320-family aircraft
- Network: Domestic Chinese destinations and selected international routes
The airline initially described itself as a boutique airline, an interesting ambition in China’s highly competitive domestic aviation market.
Today, Qingdao Airlines operates a network connecting cities across China, alongside international services to destinations in Asia.
Its distinctive blue aircraft livery makes it relatively easy to recognise at Chinese airports.
My Flight: Chengdu to Zhengzhou
On Thursday, 22 October 2026, I flew with Qingdao Airlines from Chengdu Tianfu International Airport to Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport.
The flight was operated by an Airbus A320neo, registered B-320A.
My Flight Logbook
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | 22 October 2026 |
| Airline | Qingdao Airlines |
| Flight number | QW6101 |
| Aircraft | Airbus A320neo |
| Aircraft registration | B-320A |
| Departure airport | Chengdu Tianfu (TFU) |
| Arrival airport | Zhengzhou Xinzheng (CGO) |
| Scheduled departure | 12:15 |
| Scheduled arrival | 14:10 |
| Scheduled flight duration | 1 hour 55 minutes |
| Route | Domestic, China |
The flight connected two major cities in central and western China.
Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, has developed into one of China’s most important aviation hubs. Its relatively new Tianfu International Airport is an impressive example of the country’s investment in aviation infrastructure.
Zhengzhou, meanwhile, is the capital of Henan Province and an important transport and logistics centre in central China.
Although the flight lasted less than two hours, it was another opportunity to experience China’s extensive domestic aviation network.
The Aircraft: Airbus A320neo B-320A
My aircraft was an Airbus A320neo, registered B-320A.
The A320neo belongs to Airbus’s modernised A320 family. Compared with earlier A320 models, it features more efficient engines and aerodynamic improvements designed to reduce fuel consumption and noise.
For a domestic flight of this length, the A320neo is a logical choice.
While the aircraft itself is common around the world, the airline operating it was what made this particular flight interesting to me.
I have flown on many Airbus A320-family aircraft over the years, but I continue to enjoy discovering new operators and adding their aircraft registrations to my flight logbook.
Sometimes, it is the airline rather than the aircraft type that makes a flight memorable.
China’s Lesser-Known Airlines
One of the things I find fascinating about travelling through China is the extraordinary diversity of its aviation industry.
The country’s enormous population, long distances and rapidly developing cities have created opportunities for airlines that remain virtually unknown in Europe.
Qingdao Airlines is one of them.
Its existence illustrates how China’s aviation market extends far beyond the country’s major international carriers.
For aviation enthusiasts, this creates an interesting opportunity: flying with airlines that may never appear at European airports.
During my travels, I deliberately pay attention to these smaller operators. They offer another perspective on how aviation works in different parts of the world.
My Thoughts
My flight with Qingdao Airlines was another small addition to a much larger personal aviation journey.
There was nothing particularly exotic about the aircraft itself. An Airbus A320neo is a familiar sight at airports around the world.
Yet that is part of what makes aviation interesting to me.
The same aircraft type can carry passengers for completely different airlines, across different countries and cultures, each with its own story.
Flying with Qingdao Airlines reminded me that there is still an enormous aviation world to discover beyond the carriers we regularly see in Europe.
For me, collecting airlines is almost as enjoyable as collecting destinations.
Every new airline is another little chapter in my aviation logbook.
And Qingdao Airlines now has its place in mine.