Beijing is served by two major international airports: Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), the city's primary and historically busier hub, and the newer Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX), a massive modern hub that is becoming a base for many airlines. This dual-hub system offers immense choice and competition for arrivals into the city from both domestic and international destinations.
The most frequent and affordable flights to Beijing are domestic routes from major Chinese cities. Key origin destinations include Shanghai (SHA/PVG), Guangzhou (CAN), Shenzhen (SZX), Chengdu (TFU/CTU), and Xi'an (XIY) with flights to PEK or PKX. Internationally, Beijing is a major gateway receiving extensive networks from North America, Europe, Australia, and other Asian capitals into the city. Top international inbound routes include Seoul (ICN), Tokyo (NRT/HND), Hong Kong (HKG), Singapore (SIN), London (LHR), Los Angeles (LAX), and Sydney (SYD) to Beijing's airports.
The market is highly competitive for arrivals into Beijing. Air China uses Beijing as its global hub for flights into the city, competing with other Chinese carriers like China Eastern and China Southern (which uses Daxing as a hub for arrivals). International giants like United, Lufthansa, British Airways, and All Nippon Airways provide strong competition on long-haul routes to Beijing. Low-cost carriers like Spring Airlines operate on many domestic and regional routes into both airports.
To secure cheap flights to Beijing, book domestic arrivals 3-6 weeks in advance into PEK or PKX. For international travel to Beijing, start searching 2-5 months ahead. Always compare fares and airports (PEK vs. PKX) for arrivals, as prices and airline bases differ. Use Beijing's hub status to find competitive connecting fares into the city from across Asia. Flying mid-week into Beijing and during shoulder seasons (spring and autumn) typically yields the lowest fares for arrivals. Be aware of major Chinese holidays (Spring Festival, National Day) when prices into Beijing surge and availability plummets.