British Airways (BA) has announced that it will be discontinuing its flights between London and Beijing. The decision comes as part of the carrier’s efforts to adjust to weaker demand and challenges posed by travel restrictions. From the end of October, the service will be “paused” until at least November next year. However, flights to Shanghai and Hong Kong will continue to operate as usual, according to BA.
The decrease in demand and operational difficulties can be attributed to a combination of factors, including a ban on UK flights over Russian airspace. This has resulted in longer journey times on certain routes, making them less viable for the airline. The ban was imposed by Russia’s civil aviation authority in February of 2022, in response to the UK’s decision to ban Aeroflot airline as part of sanctions related to the conflict in Ukraine.
Luis Gallego, CEO of BA’s parent company IAG, had previously warned of the challenges faced by the company in Asian markets. In a statement earlier this month, he acknowledged that the airline’s capacity in these markets was “very reduced”. While it is understood that BA may eventually resume flights to Beijing, the current decision to discontinue the route will remain under review.
This is not the first time BA has made adjustments to its flight destinations in China. In 2016, the airline also ended its services to Chengdu, a popular Chinese city known for its panda research institute. At the time, BA cited commercial viability as the reason for the decision.
A spokesperson for the airline has stated, “We will be pausing our route to Beijing from 26 October 2024, and we’re contacting any affected customers with rebooking options or to offer them a full refund.” The spokesperson also reassured customers that BA will continue to operate daily flights to Shanghai and Hong Kong.
The news of BA’s decision to discontinue flights to Beijing comes amidst other updates in the business world. The Bank of England has recently stated that there is a “90% chance of a rate cut this autumn”, while advertising agency Saatchi’s bid to acquire the Telegraph has been rejected. In more positive news, Disney has also announced a return to profit.
