[1] An application for the establishment of an airline based in the Shandong province was filed with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) by the Yantai-based Nanshan Group in May 2013.

[2] Approval was received by the CAAC between that month and June 2013,[3] when Qingdao Airlines was formed.

[4] In July 2015, Shandong Airlines transferred its shares to a subsidiary of the Nanshan Group; as of August 2015[update], the airline plans to sell the 25% of the shares held by QTDG in order to become fully private.

[9] As of October 2016[update], Qingdao Airlines served the following destinations:[10] As of August 2024[update], Qingdao Airlines operates to the following destinations:[citation needed] The airline originally aimed to become a ″boutique airline″ and had plans to start services to Shenzhen and Shenyang in the near future; Guangzhou and Shanghai were expected to be served in the longer term.

[4] As of May 2023[update], Qingdao Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft:[20] In September 2013, an order for five Airbus A320s and 18 A320neos was placed in a deal valued at USD2.5 billion.