Summary International airlines cut flights to China due to various factors such as weak demand and closed Russian airspace. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are among the airlines discontinuing routes to China after years of service. Chinese carriers are expanding overseas as Western carriers reduce flights.
Multiple international airlines have recently announced cuts to their flights to China. Once a highly promising market for global carriers, the Chinese market now seems to be losing its appeal. Recent examples of airlines cutting flights to China include Singapore Airlines, which suspended service to two Chinese cities this spring, and Australia's Qantas, which suspended its direct Sydney to Beijing service this summer.
Western carriers are also scaling back their routes to China. British Airways announced it would end its Beijing service in late October 2024, while Virgin Atlantic decided to discontinue its flights to China after 25 years of service between the UK and Shanghai. When it comes to American carriers, only United Airlines flies directly to the Chinese capital.
Multiple factors influencing the shift Each foreign airline that suspended its service to China had its own reasons for doing so. International airlines cited multiple factors, including weak travel demand to China, political tensions, rising costs, the closure of Russia's airspace, and the slow recovery of demand following COVID-19 pandemic suspensions, among other reasons. The latest update on netw.