Air China is reducing frequencies on its Shenzhen-Frankfurt route, Shenzhen Airport’s only nonstop connection to Frankfurt, from three weekly flights to one between June 10 and August 31.
On June 4, the airline announced the Monday and Wednesday services on flight CA771 would be suspended, leaving only the Saturday departure in operation during the period, ChinaTravelNews reported on June 15.
Air China resumed the Shenzhen-Frankfurt route on October 30, 2023, using Boeing 777-300 aircraft operating three times a week. The route had continued at three weekly frequencies into the 2026 summer-autumn season before the latest reduction.
Hainan Airlines had already temporarily suspended or scaled back several Europe-bound routes from Shenzhen ahead of Air China’s announcement.
Soaring jet fuel costs are one factor behind the cuts, with industry sources also pointing to the gradual withdrawal of local government subsidies that had previously supported new international services from Shenzhen, according to the report.
Shenzhen had offered financial incentives to encourage airlines to launch international routes, but as incubation periods ended and fiscal pressures increased, some subsidy programmes were reduced or eliminated, raising operating costs for carriers.
Shenzhen’s position within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has added further pressure, with its international routes competing against Hong Kong International Airport and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport for passengers.
Hong Kong’s hub offers an extensive route network and strong transfer capabilities, drawing premium business travellers and international connecting traffic from southern China, while Guangzhou’s more established hub operations provide greater cost efficiency on international routes, according to the report.
Shenzhen’s international network remains comparatively less mature, with a smaller passenger base and load factors and ticket yields under pressure, making profitability on long-haul routes increasingly difficult to sustain amid elevated fuel costs.