Seoul to Qingdao (Jiaozhou) (ICN–TAO) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
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No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
ICN–TAO is served by 6 airlines with nonstop service. Shandong Airlines, Jeju Air and Qingdao Airlines lead the route. The flight covers 360 miles in approximately 1h 14m. Beyond nonstop, 47 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC Shandong Airlines Also: OZ | 42 | 738 | 1h14-1h50 | – | – | OZ |
| 7C Jeju Air | 7 | 7M8 | 1h45 | – | – | – |
| QW Qingdao Airlines | 7 | 32N | 1h55 | – | – | – |
| KJ British Mediterranean Airways | 6 | 73F | 1h45 | – | – | – |
| LJ Jin Air | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| TW T'way Air | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Other ways to reach Qingdao (Jiaozhou) from Seoul
| Metric | ICN→TAO | TAE→TAO |
|---|---|---|
| Distance from ICN | – | 164 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 6 | 1 |
| Weekly flights | 181 | – |
| Flight time | 1h 14m | 2h 5m |
Travel Essentials
ICN: KST · TAO: CST
When it's 6:00 PM in Seoul, it's 5:00 PM in Qingdao (Jiaozhou).
South Korean passport holders can enter China visa-free for up to 15 days under China's expanded transit visa exemption policy (renewed through 2025, confirm validity before booking). This applies to tourism, business, and transit purposes at major ports of entry. For stays beyond 15 days, apply for a visa at the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in South Korea. A single-entry L (tourist) visa costs KRW 60,000 (about $45) and takes 4 working days. Express processing (2 days) costs KRW 90,000.
Passport must be valid for at least 6 months with two blank pages. For the visa-free entry, you need a return or onward ticket and proof of accommodation. For a visa application, submit the completed form from cova.mfa.gov.cn, a passport photo (48mm x 33mm, white background), flight itinerary, hotel bookings, and bank statements. Group tourist visas are available through authorized Korean travel agencies for organized tours.
Direct flights from Seoul Incheon to Beijing (2 hours), Shanghai (2 hours 15 minutes), and dozens of other Chinese cities run daily on Korean Air, Asiana, Air China, China Eastern, and budget carriers like T'way and Jin Air. China uses the Chinese yuan (CNY), trading at roughly 190 KRW per CNY 1. Cash is nearly obsolete in Chinese cities. Alipay now allows foreign passport holders to link Visa/Mastercard for mobile payments. No mandatory vaccinations. A VPN is needed for Google, KakaoTalk, and most Korean apps inside China.
AREX (Airport Railroad Express) runs two services from Seoul Station: the Direct Train (43 min, ₩11,000, reserved seats) and the All-Stop train (66 min, ₩4,550, unreserved). Both trains serve T1 first, then T2; confirm which terminal your airline uses before boarding.Limousine buses depart from major Seoul neighborhoods and hotels (₩16,000–18,000, 60–90 min depending on traffic). KAL and LIMOUSINE services are reliable. Taxis from central Seoul cost ₩65,000–80,000 and take 60–90 minutes. Deluxe (black) taxis are pricier but English-speaking drivers are more common.
Metro Line 8 runs from the airport to central Qingdao and Qingdao North Station (high-speed rail) in 40–50 minutes for CNY 10–15. Airport shuttle buses serve multiple city districts and the coastal tourist areas for CNY 30–40. Taxis and DiDi queue outside arrivals; fares to the city centre are CNY 120–180. The distance from downtown makes metro or shuttle the more practical option for most destinations.
Qingdao North Station connects via high-speed rail to Beijing (around 3h), Jinan, and other regional cities. Rental car desks are in the arrivals hall of the new terminal.
Temperate monsoon climate moderated by the Yellow Sea. Summers (June–August) are warm and humid at 24–30°C with monsoon rainfall; Qingdao is cooler and breezier than inland Shandong cities. Sea fog (known locally as pinglu) is a significant disruption risk from April through July, frequently reducing visibility at the coast and occasionally affecting the airport.
Winters (December–February) are cold and dry at −4 to 5°C, with occasional snow from continental air masses. Spring and autumn are mild and pleasant. The sea fog season (spring–early summer) is the primary driver of delays unique to Qingdao compared with other Chinese airports.
ICN–TAO Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from ICN to TAO
Incheon International Airport (ICN) and Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport (TAO) are connected by nonstop service from Jeju Air, British Mediterranean Airways, Jin Air, Qingdao Airlines, Shandong Airlines and T'way Air. With 181 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.
ICN to TAO Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from ICN to TAO ranges from 1 hours 14 minutes to 1 hours 55 minutes. The route covers a distance of 360 miles (579 km). There are approximately 181 weekly flights outbound and 188 return, totaling 369 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
47 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 3 hours via YNT. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs. Nearby alternative airports include Daegu (TAE).