British Airways Resumes Direct Flights from London to Beijing After 3-Year Hiatus

On Sunday, 4th June, Beijing Daxing Airport welcomed British Airways’ first flight from London to Beijing in more than three years.

It was the first passenger flight between the two cities since the route was shut down because of the epidemic in January 2020. Only BA offers a direct connection between Beijing and the UK. Beijing-Heathrow flights leave from Daxing Airport four times every week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

The aircraft serving the route is equipped with BA’s brand-new Club Suite (business class) cabin, which has direct aisle access, a suite door, and flat-bed seats arranged 1-to-1. In addition to new furniture, amenity packages, and enhanced dining, they provide 40% more storage, WiFi, and 18.5-inch inflight entertainment screens.

Director of international airports at BA, Louise Street, stated that “The restart of one of our most important routes after more than three years is a long-awaited moment for all of us at British Airways.

“Following the successful resumption of flights between Shanghai and London in April, we’re excited to be back in Beijing too, reuniting families and friends and facilitating international student and business travel once again.

“We are looking forward to working hand-in-hand with our joint business partner China Southern, to provide wider transit options and various benefits to our customers in China and the UK.”

From Daxing, both BA and China Southern operate, providing a broader range of onward flights and improved perks. The first international flag carrier to relocate operations to the recently completed Daxing Airport, which has a high-speed rail link into the city, was British Airways in October 2019.