Airlines • Aviation News • Europe

British Airways Resumes Flights to Mainland China

Alex Achille

Although many European airlines have already returned to the country, British Airways is still to resume flights to mainland China. However this is all going to change soon. Let’s find out how and when British Airways will resume flights to China and which cities will be served.

When Will British Airways Resume Flights to Mainland China?

Before the pandemic hit BA had been flying uninterruptedly to mainland China since 1980, over 40 years. Covid 19 inevitably changed things blocking not only BA flights the east but all flights worldwide.

Soon though European aviation giant British Airways will be resuming flights to, initially, 2 Chinese cities. To be precise BA will be resuming flights to Shanghai and Beijing starting April 23rd and June 3rd 2023.

British Airways Long Range Fleet the Airbus A350 for flights to mainland China

The Schedule of The BA Chinese Flights

As mentioned above BA will be returning to China’s two main cities in different dates. Clearly the flights will also follow different schedules and timetables.

London (LHR) –> Shanghai (PVG)

The London Heathrow to Shanghai Pudong route (Flight Number BA169) will operate on with a daily frequency starting April 23rd 2023. The flight schedule will be as follows:

  • Flight BA169 will depart London Heathrow (LHR) every day at 12:25 arriving into Shanghai (PVG) at 07:55 the next morning.
  • Return flight BA168 will depart Shanghai every day at 11:00 arriving back into London Heathrow (LHR) at 18:25

London (LHR) –> Beijing (PEK)

On the other hand the London Heathrow to Beijing flight (Flight Number BA89) will not be a daily connection, but a 4 times weekly service. Flights will depart London on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday with the following schedule:

  • Flight BA89 will depart London Heathrow (LHR) every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 15:05 arriving into Beijing (PEK) at 0935:55 the next morning.
  • Return flight BA88 will depart Beijing (PEK) every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 11:20 arriving back into London Heathrow (LHR) at 17:30

Tickets are already available for sale for both routes.

Which Aircraft Will Fly The Routes?

At the moment we don’t know which of the aircraft comprising the British Airways long range fleet will be flying these two Chinese routes. The options include 2 Boeing and 1 Airbus produced planes: