Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr announced at an employee event in Munich that the airline is considering suspending its Frankfurt-Beijing route, following similar actions by British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Qantas. The decision is attributed to decreased demand due to stagnant business travel, increased operational costs from extended flight times caused by Russian airspace restrictions, and intense competition from Chinese airlines, which has weakened Lufthansa’s market performance. Despite a record 7.3 billion euros ($8 billion) in German investments in China in the first half of 2024, unfavorable visa policies for Chinese travelers have prompted 300 German companies to urge Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock to streamline the visa process for their employees.