China and US Travel Boost as Air China Restores Boeing 747 Service to Washington DC

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Air China is set to reintroduce its iconic Boeing 747-8i on the Beijing to Washington D.C. route, with regular operations commencing March 11, 2025. This marks a significant change in the airline’s transpacific service, as the 747 had been previously used only intermittently on this route.

Direct Flights Without Layovers

The Beijing-Washington route will now operate as a nonstop service, eliminating the previous layover in Los Angeles.

Flight Schedule:

• Flight CA817: Departs from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) at 12:30 PM, arriving at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) at 3:10 PM local time.
• Flight CA818: Departs Washington D.C. at 5:35 PM, landing in Beijing at 10:30 PM the following day.

This shift replaces the Boeing 777-300ER previously deployed on the route, making it one of the few remaining 747-8i passenger services between the U.S. and China.

Air China’s 747 Operations & Expansion Plans

The airline currently operates a fleet of seven Boeing 747-8i aircraft, which are deployed on select domestic and international routes. New York-JFK has been the only U.S. destination consistently served by the jumbo jet, making Washington D.C. the second major U.S. city to receive regular 747-8i operations from Air China.

Additionally, the airline is set to expand 747-8i operations to Frankfurt, Germany starting next month, further strengthening its long-haul presence with the aircraft.

Although the 747-8i has previously appeared on Air China’s Washington D.C. route, these were one-off deployments rather than regular operations, last seen during select periods in 2017, 2019, and 2020.

International Network Adjustments for Summer 2025

Alongside the Beijing-Washington upgrade, Air China is making several long-haul network changes for the Northern Summer 2025 season, including fleet modifications and route adjustments.

Key Changes:

Europe & Middle East:

• Beijing to Athens: Airbus A330-300 replaces the originally planned A330-200, effective April 1, 2025. Flight frequency will be reduced from five to three weekly between April 1 and July 1, 2025.
• Beijing to Barcelona: Daily service will continue on Airbus A350-900 from March 30, 2025, overturning the earlier plan to switch to A330-300.
• Beijing to Dubai: The Boeing 787-9 will be replaced by an Airbus A350-900, starting March 1, 2025. Daily service will continue beyond March 30.
• Beijing to London Gatwick: The route will transition to Airbus A350-900 from March 30, 2025, replacing the previously planned A330-300. However, the temporary service suspension from April 29 to May 29, 2025, remains unchanged.
• Beijing to Warsaw: Flight frequency will increase from three to four weekly from April 5, 2025, operated by Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

Australia:

• Beijing to Melbourne: Service will increase from four to five weekly flights between July 12 and August 9, 2025, utilizing Airbus A350-900.
• Beijing to Sydney: Flights will rise from four to five weekly between July 18 and August 15, 2025, operated by Boeing 787-9.

Conclusion

Air China’s decision to deploy the Boeing 747-8i on the Beijing-Washington route represents a major shift in its U.S. strategy, reaffirming its commitment to premium long-haul travel. As one of the last airlines to operate passenger 747s, Air China continues to leverage its flagship aircraft on key transcontinental routes while implementing fleet upgrades and capacity adjustments to optimize its global network for the upcoming peak season.

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