China Southern Resumes Beijing-Helsinki Flights with B787-9 After 5 Years
China Southern Airlines has announced the resumption of its direct flights from Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) to Helsinki Airport (HEL) starting on March 29, 2026. This reinstatement brings back a route that had been discontinued five years ago due to pandemic-related disruptions and airspace challenges.
The airline will initially operate three weekly services using Boeing 787-9 aircraft, scheduled for Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. By June 20, 2026, the frequency will increase to daily flights, accommodating growing demand throughout the summer travel period.
Flight CZ609 will depart from Beijing at 14:20 local time, landing in Helsinki at 18:35 local time. The return flight leaves Helsinki at 20:35 local time, arriving in Beijing the next day.
With a flight duration of just over nine hours, this route offers one of the most efficient links between northern China and Scandinavia.
Daxing’s First European Gateway
This route marks a significant milestone for Beijing Daxing, which opened its doors in 2019 but has faced challenges in attracting long-haul international traffic. As reported by Finavia, Helsinki is Daxing’s inaugural nonstop destination in Northern Europe and the first direct link to any city in Europe.
As the anchor tenant at Daxing, China Southern is gradually expanding the airport’s international reach. The airline already connects Daxing to various cities, including Paris, Madrid, and London, but the addition of Helsinki enriches its European network significantly.
“We are excited to see this high-demand route from Beijing reopen after five years,” said Petri Vuori, Senior Vice President for route development at Finavia. “This will be China Southern Airlines’ first operation to Helsinki Airport and the Nordics.”
Filling a Connectivity Void
The timing of this new route reflects changes in Nordic-Asian aviation. Finnair, which typically dominated Finland-China routes, has significantly scaled down its mainland China network since suspending services in March 2020. Currently, it operates only two weekly flights to Shanghai, a mere fraction of its pre-pandemic schedule due to complications from closed Russian airspace.
This situation has left Helsinki with limited options for passengers traveling to northern and central China. While Juneyao Airlines offers flights to Shanghai and Zhengzhou, China Southern’s service provides the only direct access to Beijing from Finland’s capital.
Travelers can benefit significantly from the new service, which facilitates extensive connectivity in both directions. From Beijing Daxing, passengers can easily connect to numerous domestic cities and regional hubs across Asia, such as Seoul and Tokyo. Helsinki also serves as an efficient transfer point for connections throughout Scandinavia, the Baltics, and Western Europe.
Commercial and Cargo Implications
Beyond tourism, this route holds promise for Finland’s export-driven economy. Essential sectors, such as technology and clean energy, often rely on timely air cargo shipments to Asia. The direct flight to Beijing offers expedited access to northern China’s industrial sectors.
The Boeing 787-9’s belly-hold cargo capacity can be particularly advantageous for Finnish exporters seeking to avoid congested European hubs. Typically configured to seat around 290 passengers, the aircraft can also accommodate approximately 15 tons of cargo based on route requirements.
This resumption indicates a growing confidence in the travel demand between the two nations. Historically, Chinese leisure travelers have shown interest in winter tourism in Lapland, while business travel flows back and forth as Finnish companies operate in China and Chinese firms invest in Nordic clean technology.
Are you looking forward to the reopening of this direct link between Beijing and Helsinki?
