London Gatwick strengthens China connectivity with Qingdao service from Beijing Capital Airlines
- Direct service to Qingdao, China, operated by Beijing Capital Airlines, returns to London Gatwick following successful operation over the 2025 summer season
- Part of continued growth in London Gatwick’s expanding China network, with further routes launching this summer
London Gatwick has welcomed the launch of a direct service to Qingdao with Beijing Capital Airlines, further strengthening the airport’s growing network across China and the wider Asia region.
The route, which began today (Friday 26 June), marks the return of London Gatwick’s connection to Qingdao, a major coastal city in eastern China. The service will run once per week through the 2026 summer season and supports growing demand for travel between the UK and China.
Qingdao, located on China’s Yellow Sea coast, is known for its scenic waterfront, rich history and thriving economy. As its largest city, Qingdao serves as a key gateway to the Shandong province and provides access to a wider region that continues to see growing economic and tourism links with the UK.
The returning service forms part of a broader period of growth at London Gatwick, with the airport expanding its long-haul offering and strengthening links to global markets. In particular, connectivity between the UK and China has continued to grow with increasing capacity across key routes and more airlines choosing to operate from London Gatwick.
This growth is set to continue in the coming weeks as the airport welcomes a new service to Chengdu with Air China on Sunday 5 July.
Jonny Macneal, Head of Aviation Development, London Gatwick said: “We’re delighted to welcome Beijing Capital Airlines back to London Gatwick and celebrate the return of this service to Qingdao, further strengthening our connections to China.
“This new route reflects the strong demand we are seeing for travel between the UK and Asia and reinforces the region’s importance within our growing network.”
With around 43m annual passengers, London Gatwick is the UK’s second largest and one of Europe’s top airports. It is a vital piece of national infrastructure that drives both the national and regional economies by generating £5.5bn GVA and supporting over 76,000 jobs (2023). More than 60 airlines fly from the airport to over 160 short-haul and more than 50 long-haul destinations. With a declared maximum capacity of 57 movements an hour, London Gatwick is the most efficient single runway airport in the world.
The airport is located 28 miles south of the UK capital and is extremely well-connected, with more than a quarter of England’s population (15m people) – including all of London – less than one hour away by road or rail. A six-year, £2bn sustainable growth programme includes an ambitious plan to be a net zero airport by 2030 and to increase capacity by bringing the airport’s existing Northern Runway into routine use, alongside its Main Runway. VINCI Airports owns a 50.01% stake in the airport, with Global Infrastructure Partners managing the remaining 49.99%.
VINCI Airports, as the leading private airport operator in the world, manages the development and operation of more than 70 airports located in 14 countries. VINCI Airports draws on its expertise as a comprehensive integrator to develop, finance, build and operate airports, leveraging its investment capability and know-how to optimise operational performance and modernise infrastructure while bringing about their environmental transition. In 2016, VINCI Airports became the first airport operator to commit to an international environmental strategy, setting itself the aim of reaching zero net emissions (scope 1 and 2) across the network by 2050 while supporting the territories’ local climate transition.
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