Dutch flag carrier KLM will reduce its flights to China by 20% early next year, according to aviation news website AeroRoutes.
At least in the first quarter of 2025, it will reduce its Beijing route from seven to five flights per week, and its Shanghai route from seven to six flights per week, effectively shrinking capacity for both cities.
The airline's decision aligns with those made by other international carriers, such as Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Lufthansa, LOT Polish Airlines, SAS, and Finnair, which have also reduced or suspended flights to China. Rising costs due to restricted access to Russian airspace have been a significant factor driving these reductions.
However, some analysts suggest passenger demand may be the primary issue. Aggressive expansion of international routes by Chinese airlines, combined with lower ticket prices, has eroded the competitiveness of foreign carriers. This trend has also led to route suspensions or reductions by airlines not dependent on Russian airspace, including Qantas, AirAsia, Cebu Pacific and Royal Brunei Airlines.
KLM currently operates flights to seven East Asian destinations: Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei, Seoul, Tokyo, and Osaka. So far, no flight reductions have been reported for the other five destinations.
