China Eastern Airlines
has upped its services to London for this winter season. This comes as European airlines, including Lufthansa
(LH), British Airways
(BA) and Virgin Atlantic
(VS) pull away from China, citing rising costs and a weakening competitive environment. As Chinese airlines boost their control of the China-Europe market, will European airlines ever be able to return?

Gatwick and Heathrow will both benefit

Aeroroutes reports that China Eastern plans to increase services to London as of the start of the IATA winter season which begins on October 27, 2024.

The airline will move from seven weekly services to nine on its Shanghai Pudong International Airport
(PVG) to London Gatwick Airport
(LGW) route. A mix of Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A350-900 equipment will operate these. Between October 28 and December 31, A350-operated flights will total 5 weekly. Regarding services to London Heathrow Airport
(LHR), flights will increase from seven to 12 weekly as of October 27. All of them will be operated with the 777-300ER.

Amsterdam, Netherlands - October 8, 2022: China Eastern Airbus A350-900 airplane at Amsterdam Schiphol airport (AMS) in the Netherlands.

Photo: Markus Mainka / Shutterstock

This also comes as UK airlines, namely VS and BA, begin pulling out of China more and more. On flights to Shanghai, VS pulled its connection from LHR, which was its only flight to China. The last service is on October 26. In other words, this winter, VS will have completely pulled out of the country. It cited “significant challenges and complexities on this route” contributing to the decision, with difficulties related to the inability to fly through Russian airspace as a key factor.

Meanwhile, British Airways still operates in the LHR-PVG sector. However, as of October 27, it has decided to scrap its LHR to Beijing Daxing (PKX) route. The reasons include Russian airspace once again, which prompted higher operating costs. Additionally, significant overcapacity in the UK-China market does not help. Historically, BA offered three routes from LHR to China, including to Chengdu (cut in 2017), Shanghai, and Beijing.

A British Airways Boeing 777-200 landing

Photo: JEERAPAN JANKAEW | Shutterstock

More recently, Lufthansa decided to axe its own route between Frankfurt and Beijing as of this winter as well.

Chinese airlines squeezing out BA and VS in the China-UK market

Chinese airlines have increased their services between the UK and China for years. According to an analysis conducted by CAPA – Centre for Aviation, data over the last decade or so demonstrates the dwindling control of European airlines over the UK-China market. In fact, from a combined 54% of the seat share in August 2014, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways today make up just under 15%.

Take a look at the data below, compiled thanks to Cirium on the two key routes between London and China. The first isbetween the two capitals, with only two Chinese airlines scheduled to operate between the two cities this November.

*November 11, 14, 17, 19 and 27 are not available for booking.

Air China 777-300ER departing

As for the route between London and Shanghai, the following airlines will offer flights this November.

Airline

Origin

Destination

Aircraft

Frequency

British Airways

LHR

PVG

B787

Daily

Air China

LGW

PVG

A350

Daily

China Eastern Airlines

LHR

PVG

B777

12 weekly

China Eastern Airlines

LGW

PVG

A350, B777

9 weekly

In terms of seats, British Airways will control just 15% of the market. Not to mention the overall UK-China market, where British Airways will be but a speck of dust this November in what is now a virtually Chinese-controlled environment.

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