Airlines
European Airlines Expand China Operations
EU and UK carriers are resuming flights to China in spite of the markedly higher costs owing to their inability to use Russian airspace.
Air France uses Boeing 777-300ERs for service to Shanghai. (Photo: Air France-KLM)
Air France uses Boeing 777-300ERs for service to Shanghai. (Photo: Air France-KLM)

Beijing’s decision to reopen China's borders from January 8, scraping stringent Covid testing and quarantine rules, and removing the policy under which foreign airlines could fly only one route to the country and operate no more than one flight a week, has prompted European carrier's to resume service to the People’s Republic.

However, rebuilding the Chinese networks to pre-pandemic levels comes with new challenges because Russia has closed its airspace for European Union (EU) and UK operators. Airlines traditionally have used the Siberian corridor for flights connecting Europe with the Far East, including China.