BA is set to suspend its direct flights from London Heathrow to Beijing starting 26 October.
- This decision follows just over a year after the route was reinstated post-Covid restrictions.
- The suspension is attributed to the increased costs and complexities of avoiding Russian airspace.
- Chinese carriers retain a competitive advantage by flying directly over Russian territory.
- Western airlines face longer flight times and increased fuel consumption to reach China.
British Airways (BA) will suspend its direct flights from London Heathrow to Beijing from 26 October, citing rising operational costs. This decision comes just over a year after the national carrier restored the route in June 2023, following a three-year hiatus due to Covid-related travel restrictions.
The airline did not provide a detailed explanation for the suspension, but factors such as increased cost and complexity of flights to Asia due to the need to avoid Russian airspace, following the war in Ukraine, are likely contributors. Flights to China now entail longer travel times, significantly increasing fuel consumption and complicating crew deployment.
Chinese carriers, who continue to fly directly over Russian territory, maintain a competitive advantage by offering shorter and more cost-effective routes. This places Western airlines, including BA, at a disadvantage as they deal with extended flight durations and higher operational expenses.
A BA spokesperson stated, ‘We will be pausing our route to Beijing from 26 October, and we’re contacting any affected customers with rebooking options or to offer them a full refund. We continue to operate daily flights to Shanghai and Hong Kong.’ The service is not expected to resume until at least November 2025, though the situation will be continually assessed.
This move mirrors a similar decision by Virgin Atlantic to cease operations to Shanghai, underscoring the challenges Western carriers face in sustaining profitable routes to China in the current geopolitical climate. The decision also highlights the broader challenges in reviving business travel to China. Despite the lifting of travel restrictions, the number of foreign tourists and business travellers visiting China has not returned to pre-pandemic levels.
BA has historically struggled to maintain its Chinese routes. The airline previously discontinued its Heathrow-Chengdu service in 2016, citing similar difficulties.
This suspension underscores the significant challenges Western airlines face in maintaining cost-effective routes to China under the current geopolitical and economic conditions.
