British Airways Suspends London-Beijing Service

British Airways (BA) has announced the suspension of its London-Beijing flights, effective from late October. The decision to halt the London Heathrow (LHR) to Beijing Daxing (PKX) service, which operates four times a week with Boeing 777 aircraft, comes as a response to ongoing challenges with Russian airspace and weakened demand. The suspension will start on October 26, 2024, and is currently planned to last until November 2025, though BA will review the schedule as needed.

This move mirrors a recent decision by Virgin Atlantic, which also plans to cease its sole route to mainland China. Both airlines have been impacted by the closure of Russian airspace, a direct result of the geopolitical conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The inability to overfly Russia has significantly extended flight times and increased operational costs for these carriers.

BA’s suspension follows the resumption of its Beijing service in June 2023, after a hiatus of more than three years due to the pandemic. Despite this reintroduction, the airline is facing heightened costs and operational difficulties due to airspace restrictions. Chinese carriers, which continue to use Russian airspace, have a competitive advantage over their international counterparts.

On an earnings call on August 2, BA CEO Sean Doyle highlighted the challenges faced in North Asia. He noted that demand from China is currently below the airline’s capacity, contrasting with the strong performance seen in Southeast Asia. In response, BA plans to expand its network in Southeast Asia, including reintroducing Kuala Lumpur and launching Bangkok flights from Gatwick.

Currently, BA is one of three carriers operating nonstop flights between London and Beijing. Air China flies double-daily between LHR and Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and offers a daily service from PEK to London Gatwick. China Southern Airlines also provides daily flights between LHR and Beijing Daxing (PKX).

Prior to the pandemic and the closure of Russian airspace, BA held around 25% of the capacity on the London-Beijing route, offering approximately 4,200 weekly seats. At present, BA’s contribution is around 2,200 seats, representing an 11% market share of the total 19,900 two-way weekly seats available between London and Beijing.