BA is suspending direct flights from Heathrow to Beijing due to rising operating costs

British Airways (BA) has announced the suspension of its direct flights between London Heathrow and Beijing, effective October 26.

The decision comes just over a year after the British flag carrier reinstated the route in June 2023, following a three-year hiatus due to coronavirus-related travel restrictions.

The airline did not provide a detailed explanation for the suspension, but the increased cost and complexity of flights to Asia – exacerbated by the need to avoid Russian airspace after the war in Ukraine – are likely key factors. Western airlines are now faced with longer flight times to China, which significantly increases fuel consumption and complicates crew deployment. Meanwhile, Chinese airlines, which continue to fly directly over Russian territory, maintain a competitive advantage by offering shorter and more cost-effective routes.

In a statement, a BA spokesperson said: “We will be suspending our route to Beijing from October 26 and we are contacting all affected customers with rebooking options or to offer them a full refund. We will continue to operate daily flights to Shanghai and Hong Kong.”

Service is not expected to resume until at least November 2025, although the airline has said it is monitoring the situation. The move follows a similar decision by Virgin Atlantic to halt flights to Shanghai, highlighting the challenges Western airlines face in maintaining profitable routes to China under current geopolitical conditions.

BA’s decision also reflects broader challenges in reviving business travel to China. Despite the lifting of travel restrictions, the number of foreign tourists and business travelers visiting China has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. The airline has struggled to maintain its Chinese routes in the past, after quietly axing the much-publicised Heathrow-Chengdu service in 2016.