Air China drops Gatwick

Gatwick Airport will lose its Beijing route this coming winter as Air China suspends the service from 27 October.

A spokesperson for Gatwick responded to the news, saying: “We are disappointed that Air China has decided not to operate services between London Gatwick and Beijing this winter.

Over the summer, the airline increased the size of aircraft used on its other UK route, which has caused it to temporarily withdraw services from Gatwick for one season.  However passenger numbers on the Gatwick route have been consistently strong since its launch and we look forward to welcoming Air China back next summer”.

It would appear that despite strong loads a lack of demand means the service is not currently viable year round from two UK airports.  Gatwick believes that the airline will return for the summer season, commencing in spring 2014, with four weekly flights.

The carrier continues to operate a daily direct service to Beijing from Heathrow.

With BA adding a new service from Heathrow Korean Airlines dropped its Gatwick – Seoul route late last year (see BTN 7 January) and Hong Kong Airlines’ ill-fated all Business Class service was cancelled prior to that.  (see BTN 13 August).  Air Asia X also departed after a very short stay in March 2012 (See BTN 16 January 2012).

On a positive note Vietnam Airlines added a fifth summer service from Gatwick in April and Emirates continues to offer connections to most places in the Far East via its Dubai hub. www.airchina.co.uk

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