Western airlines were excited about returning to China after Covid. But not anymore

When China reopened its borders after Covid restrictions, Western airlines were expected to return to the market. However, the mood has changed. Western airlines are reducing flights due to lukewarm demand and China’s slumping economy. The extended flight times caused by Moscow’s war on Ukraine, as Western airlines avoid Russian airspace, have made them less competitive. Geopolitics has also affected flights between China and the US. Foreign airlines are pulling back flight capacity due to more profitable opportunities elsewhere. Airlines like Delta and British Airways have postponed or suspended routes to China. European airlines have been hit hard by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. China’s shorter northern routes have benefited Chinese carriers, while foreign airlines incur increased costs and longer flight times.