British Airways has restarted flights from London to the Chinese capital Beijing for the first time since the start of the Covid-19 crisis.

The airline resumed the route between Heathrow and Beijing Daxing airports on Sunday (4 June), which had previously been suspended since January 2020. BA is currently the only UK carrier to be operating a direct service from London to Beijing.

The Heathrow-Beijing route will operate four times per week on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Onward flights from Beijing are provided by BA’s joint business partner China Southern.

Louise Street, British Airways’ director of worldwide airports, described the resumption of the Beijing route as a “long-awaited moment” for the airline.

“Following the successful resumption of flights between Shanghai and London in April, we’re excited to be back in Beijing too, reuniting families and friends and facilitating international student and business travel once again,” said Street.

Business class passengers flying on the route will be able to enjoy BA’s new Club Suite flat-bed seats, which include a door for more privacy, direct-aisle access and 40 per cent more storage.

Airline capacity between Europe and China is being restored this summer following the Chinese government’s reopening of its border at the start of the year.