Lufthansa is reorganizing its operations in Asia: the airline is considering suspending its non-stop flights between Frankfurt and Beijing, according to Reuters. Increasing demand in particular from China and rising operating costs have led to low profitability, making the service unviable.
Currently, the German airline offers five weekly flights on Airbus A340-300 between Frankfurt and Beijing, previously this route was operated on Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8i aircraft. Its partner airline Air China also operates this segment eleven times a week on Boeing 777-300ER.
The decision to suspend this route will be made in October, according to an executive of the airline, it will continue with its daily operation between Munich and Beijing. Lufthansa has still suspended its services between the Bavarian capital and Hong Kong, while other Lufthansa Group airlines such as Austrian Airlines and SWISS have not resumed their operations to Beijing-Capital since the start of the pandemic.
The situation of airspace restrictions due to the Ukraine-Russia war and the geopolitical situation in the region has caused several airlines to modify their operations in Greater China. British Airways has canceled its flights to Beijing Capital and has reduced its flights to Hong Kong to one daily flight on a Boeing 787 and Virgin Atlantic has ceased its services to Shanghai and Hong Kong, the airline has operated for more than 20 years in both destinations.
See also: Lufthansa Eyes Investment in airBaltic Amid Expansion Strategy in Europe