Western airlines have decided to cut their flights to China due to decreased demand and the high costs of flying around Russian airspace, which undermines their competitiveness against local carriers. British Airways announced this month the suspension of its flights between London and Beijing starting October, shortly after Virgin Atlantic decided to withdraw its only flight to China, which is to Shanghai.
Despite not being affected by the Russian airspace ban, Australian airline Qantas plans to reduce its Sydney-Shanghai route, stating that its planes were sometimes carrying only half their passengers. This decline indicates a shift in the stance of some of the world's leading airlines towards China amid slowing Chinese economic growth and geopolitical tensions between Beijing and the United States and its allies.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, China was seen as a growth opportunity for Western airlines hoping to benefit from its expanding economy and the increasing number of wealthy tourists. However, flight numbers plummeted during the pandemic, and although airlines began rebuilding their flight schedules after borders reopened in 2023, they have indicated a new decline in recent months.
Last year, British Airways stated that the Beijing route was "one of the most important routes" when it resumed flights after a three-year hiatus and began a recruitment campaign for Chinese-speaking crew in January. British Airways still operates flights to Shanghai and Hong Kong but has halved the number of flights to the former British territories this year.
