Brunei, Kenya, and Nepal Among New Direct Flights via Daxing International Airport

Erica Guo | Aug 23, 2019 12:24 pm | Add a comment | 912 reads

With the Daxing Airport in its final stages of preparation, many international carriers are still seeking to secure territory in Beijing airspace.

As of Aug 22, three more international airlines have confirmed plans to introduce new direct routes to the capital, expanding Beijing’s already impressive collection of non-stop overseas connections. Himalayan Airlines, Kenya Airways, and Royal Brunei Airlines have set their eyes on what will become the world’s largest airport come Sep 30, opening channels to Nepal, Nairobi, and Royal Brunei.

Of the three, Kenya Airways is the only airline yet to secure a landing slot in the new airport and is awaiting the final say on Daxing’s competitive slot allocation. However, the company is confident of a positive outcome, having allegedly received the green light ahead of time and expects to snag a place as part of the Sky Alliance team (read more about carrier allocation between Beijing Capital International Airport and Daxing here). While both Himalayan Airlines and Royal Brunei Airlines are preparing to begin services in October, Kenya Airways has plans to launch in 2020.

Smaller international airlines may have finally found footing in the city through Daxing, although domestic air travel carriers will likely retain much of their monopoly over Beijing’s flight network. Carriers such as Royal Brunei Airlines had previously struggled to enter the capital's congested aviation space, failing to obtain a landing slot at the Beijing Capital International Airport. The advent of the new airport may serve to establish more direct connections to niche destinations, paving routes to all corners of the world.

Several other airline carriers have announced plans to move and/or expand existing flight routes in Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX). Below is the comprehensive list to date:

  • British Airways: Beijing-London Heathrow (starts Oct 28)
  • China Southern Airlines: Beijing-Ho Chi Minh City (starts Oct 27)
  • China United Airlines (under China Eastern Airlines): Beijing to cities across China (starts Sep 30) 
  • Finnair: Beijing-Helsinki (starts Nov 3)
  • LOT Polish Airlines: Beijing-Warsaw-Chopin (starts Oct 29)
  • Malaysia Airlines: Beijing-Kuala Lumpur International Airport (starts Dec 31)

Unfortunately, the new airport will be twice as far from the center of town as the old one.
Time to read up on how to get there.

Images: China Daily, kathmandupost.com