British Airways is the latest airline to scale back service to China. The carrier said Thursday that it would “pause” service between London Heathrow and Beijing effective Oct. 26, 2024.
According to the Financial Times, the IAG-owned airline expects to suspend the route for at least a year. British Airways’ service to Beijing Daxing currently operates four times per week on a Boeing 777-200.
The London-based carrier will continue to serve Shanghai and Hong Kong. Last year, British Airways resumed service to both Beijing and Shanghai after a nearly three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Western airlines continue to face woes in the Chinese market, largely due to the closure of Russian airspace. Flights are forced to deviate around the airspace, which extends block times.
Last month, Virgin Atlantic announced plans to axe its only China route, citing these airspace constraints. The carrier served the market since 1999.
