Sat Sep 21 11:03:15 UTC 2024: ## Lufthansa Considers Pulling Back Flights to Beijing Amid Russian Airspace Closure
**Frankfurt, Germany** – German flag carrier Lufthansa is considering pulling back some flights to China, citing the ongoing competitive disadvantage caused by the closure of Russian airspace. The decision follows a similar move by British Airways, which announced the suspension of its Beijing flights from London Heathrow.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, European airlines have been forced to reroute flights to China, flying significantly longer routes and incurring higher fuel costs. Lufthansa, in particular, is struggling to compete with airlines from the Persian Gulf and China, who can utilize Russian airspace, offering shorter flight times and cheaper fares.
A spokesperson for Lufthansa stated that European carriers are facing “an extremely unequal competitive position with China,” highlighting the lower operating costs and government support enjoyed by their rivals. While Lufthansa has long competed with Middle Eastern carriers like Emirates and Qatar Airways, the closure of Russian airspace has exacerbated the issue.
“European airlines, unlike those from the Persian Gulf and Bosporus, are in an extremely unequal competitive position with China,” a spokesperson for Lufthansa noted. “All airlines from these countries benefit from low location costs, low social standards, and high government investment in the aviation sector.”
Lufthansa, however, will not make a final decision until October. Even if the carrier decides to pull out of Beijing from Frankfurt, it will continue to serve the Chinese capital from Munich and other destinations.
The decision by Lufthansa and British Airways highlights the significant impact of the Russian airspace closure on European airlines. The situation is unlikely to change until Russia reopens its airspace to Western carriers, which could take years.
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