Beijing-Hawaii Flights Suspended Amid Ongoing Trade War

By Phoebe Kut, August 7, 2019

For Beijingers looking to enjoy the beautiful beaches and laid-back lifestyle of Hawaii, unfortunately you won’t be able to fly direct with Air China after August 27. According to Reuters, the airline, which is China’s flagship carrier, is suspending the route due to slumping demand amid the escalating trade war between China and the US.

Air China has stated on its website that passengers who have purchased tickets for travel after that date will receive a full refund.

The route ran triweekly and averaged a 66.37% passenger load factor according to Variflight, a Chinese aviation data provider. To put this number in perspective, the average load factor of Air China’s international flights last year was 76.69%, making the Beijing-Hawaii route well below average.

Other carriers will still fly the route, though, such as Korean Air, China Eastern and a few others, but with at least one stop along the way. Total travel time for these flights clock in at almost at 13 hours compared Air China’s direct flight to Honolulu, which takes nine hours and 40 minutes.

So, if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of city life but want to stay within Asia, look to ‘China’s Hawaii’ or Southeast Asia for a quick, boozy beach getaway.

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[Cover image via Unsplash]