Why It’s Getting Harder to Fly to China

Published On Oct 24, 2024, 12:00 AM

The article discusses the challenges faced by international airlines, particularly American and European carriers, in maintaining flight routes to and from China. Due to the ongoing geopolitical tensions, notably the war in Ukraine, airlines are having to reroute away from Russian airspace, resulting in longer travel times and increased operational costs. As a result, flights have been suspended or reduced significantly, with carriers like Virgin Atlantic and LOT Polish Airlines halting their routes due to low demand and high costs, exacerbated by a sluggish Chinese economy and diminishing business travel. There was initial optimism for a rebound in travel post-COVID restrictions, but that has not occurred as expected.