Ritika Janiya
British Airways has announced that it will suspend all its services between London and Beijing from the end of October 2024. The company stated that passengers already booked on the route would get a full refund. This is going to be a minimum break until next November, when the service is due to resume. Flights to other cities, for example, Shanghai and Hong Kong, are not affected. This decision is partly due to reduced demand and longer flight times that are caused by restrictions on flying over the airspace of Russia.
Why British Airways is Stopping Flights to Beijing
British Airways, one of Britain’s largest airlines, suspends its flights between London and Beijing. The change will come into effect on October 26, 2024, and at the very least, it should stay in place at least through November 2025. If you happen to have a ticket for that route, do not worry—you will get a full refund.
The airline commented that there were a couple of reasons for such a decision:. First and foremost, the flights are not in enough demand at the moment. Fewer people are traveling between London and Beijing, which means not enough earnings from this route for the airline. Secondly, there are restrictions to flying via the Russian airspace. These were restrictions that Russia had put in place back in February 2022. This happened after the UK had put a ban on the Russian airline Aeroflot over the war in Ukraine.
What Are the Other Impacts of These Restrictions?
The ban on flying over Russian airspace has elongated certain flights. This means British Airways is forced to find alternative routes, often more expensive and less efficient. The outcome has been paring down on some routes by the airline, including the London to Beijing flight.
According to Luis Gallego, CEO of IAG, the parent company of British Airways, early this month, flights the airline operates to Asia are “very reduced.” That is, they offer fewer flights to Asian destinations, with some routes either canceled or put on hold.
Beijing and Other Cities
Even as British Airways scrubs flights to Beijing, other cities within China are still due for flying. Flights will, for example, continue to operate normally to Shanghai and Hong Kong. It just goes on to prove that even as it cuts some operations, other places are integral to this carrier, British Airways.
British Airways has dropped flights to other Chinese cities before. In 2016 the carrier axed flights to Chengdu – famously home to the giant pandas, and also the location of a popular research center. It said flights there were no longer commercially viable. The polite way of saying they weren’t making enough money.
What Should Passengers Do If They’re Affected?
In case you have a ticket for the London to Beijing way, British Airways is getting in touch with people concerned to provide options for either rebooking or a full refund on your ticket. You can either choose another flight or have a full refund. British Airways is doing everything possible to ensure that those affected by the change are well catered for.
Future Possibilities
While not entirely ruling out the opportunity to fly to Beijing again one day, British Airways maintains its options open and will review the situation over time. It simply means that with increasing demand on the route or with changing conditions, the airline may turn a decision around and start to fly to Beijing again.
British Airways will not continue flights from London to Beijing beyond the end of October 2024. The company made this decision due to a reduction in demand for the route and the restriction to flying over Russian airspace. It will continue to maintain flights to Shanghai and Hong Kong. Affected passengers have a full refund or possibility of re-booking. British Airways keeps the situation under review, and perhaps at some time in the future, may decide to re-instate flights to Beijing. If you have a ticket for this route, British Airways will be in contact with you to assist on your travel plans.
This change is but one of many in a broader mix of airlines adjusting routes and services in line with current global conditions and travel demands. Travelers must continue to be informed about such changes and know their options should their own plans be affected.
