China: CAAC tries to lure foreign airlines to Daxing

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) hopes an offer of more and better-optimized slots will persuade foreign airlines to move to the new Beijing Daxing International Airport. CAAC said it has acquired some international route rights at Daxing, scheduled to open in September, and is working to obtain more. The airport will achieve an initial scale in international operations when China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines move there from Beijing Capital International Airport, said Yu Biao, deputy chief of the agency’s transportation section. Beijing Capital is closer to Beijing’s business districts, so some foreign airlines are hesitant to move to Daxing. “If they chose to move to Daxing airport, they can get an increase and also optimization” in slots, Yu said. While Chinese airlines are being directed to move services to Daxing, CAAC is allowing foreign carriers choose between the airports or operate at both. Some foreign carriers already plan to move to the new facility. BA said it will shift all operations to Daxing from Beijing Capital beginning Oct. 27. BA operates Boeing 777s and 787s between Beijing and London Heathrow Airport. LOT Polish Airlines said it will begin flying four times a week between Daxing and Warsaw from Oct. 28, using 787-8s and 787-9s. LOT will retain 3X-weekly service between Beijing Capital and Warsaw. <br/>