Dulles to Beijing (IAD–PEK) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

IAD Airport Page →
6,906 mi airlines 2/wk
On-time Some delays Frequent delays
Flight Schedule 2 flights Verified 1h ago
Nonstop 1-Stop 2-Stop Hide separate tickets Hide overnight
  Flight Airline AC Dep Arr Dur OTP Sched  
CA818
CA Air China
748
12:04 AM
EDT
3:53 AM+1
CST
15h 49m
M T W T F S S
Prices
CA817
CA Air China
747
4:31 PM
CST TT3
6:44 PM
EDT
14h 13m
M T W T F S S
Prices

No flights match your filters.

No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.

1-STOP
2-STOP Loading...
Dulles to Beijing
1 carrier, 2 flights/week nonstop.
1 Airlines 2 Flights/wk 6,906 mi 15h 49m nonstop +12h ahead 37 1-stop hubs

IAD–PEK is served by 1 airline with nonstop service. Air China leads the route. The flight covers 6,906 miles in approximately 15h 49m. Beyond nonstop, 37 hubs offer 1-stop connections.

Airline Landscape

All carriers operating nonstop IAD–PEK service, compared side by side.
Airline Freq/wk Aircraft Duration Dep OTP Alliance Codeshares
CA Air China 2 748 15h49 58% Star Alliance
Aircraft on this route
748 Boeing 747-8 – CA
Alliance coverage
Star Alliance: CA (2 flights/wk, 100%)
OTP based on airport-level delay snapshots. Duration ranges reflect seasonal/directional variation.

Weekly Schedule Pattern

Nonstop flight frequency by day of week, IAD to PEK direction.
Mon
0
flights
Tue
1
flight
Wed
0
flights
Thu
0
flights
Fri
1
flight
Sat
0
flights
Sun
0
flights
Departure time distribution
12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12 AM
Morning departures
Afternoon/evening departures
1
Nonstop flights
2
Outbound / wk
2
Return / wk

Connection Landscape

Beyond nonstop. 1-stop and 2-stop options for IAD to PEK.
1-STOP
One-Stop Connections
37
Hubs
~15h
Fastest
~41h
Longest
Verified with published schedule alignment and minimum connection time.
2-STOP
Two-Stop Connections
2,212
Candidates
Two-stop connections loaded in the connections tab above.
Connections computed from published schedules with minimum connection time verification. Use the interactive explorer above the fold to filter by airline, tier, and layover time.

On-Time Performance

What to expect at each end of your journey.
Outbound
IAD → PEK
58%
Frequent delays expected. Consider flexible booking.
Departing
58%
Return
PEK → IAD
81%
Generally reliable. Most flights run on time.
Arriving
81%
OTP = percentage of flights arriving within 15 min of schedule. Based on airport-level delay snapshots. IAD delays →

Travel Essentials

Practical planning for this route.
Time Difference
+12h
Beijing is 12 hours ahead of Dulles.
IAD: EDT · PEK: CST

When it's 6:00 PM in Dulles, it's 6:00 AM (next day) in Beijing.
Distance & Flight Time
6,906 mi / 11,113 km
Nonstop flight time is approximately 15h 49m.
Visa & Entry

US passport holders can enter China visa-free for stays up to 30 days under a temporary policy running through December 31, 2026. This covers tourism, business visits, and transit. No advance application is needed. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry.

For stays beyond 30 days, a standard visa from a Chinese embassy or consulate is required before departure. Separate 144-hour and 72-hour visa-free transit programs exist at select airports for travelers continuing to a third country.

Getting to IAD

WMATA Silver Line Metro now reaches Dulles directly; take Silver Line to Washington Dulles Airport station (about 65 min from Metro Center, ~$7). The connection opened in late 2022.Ride-shares from downtown DC run $35–60 and take 35–50 minutes via I-66 (longer during peak hours). Washington Flyer coach to Wiehle-Reston East Metro costs $6. The airport is 27 miles from downtown; taxis are expensive ($60–80).

Getting from PEK

Airport Express to Dongzhimen takes 16 minutes (¥25) and connects to Metro Lines 2 and 13 for central Beijing. Running 6am to 11pm from T2 and T3. It bypasses road congestion regardless of traffic conditions.Taxis use the meter; central Beijing runs ¥80–120 from the airport. Didi ride-hailing is available and widely used. Airport express buses (¥25–30) serve multiple city zones. T3 (international hub) and T2 are connected by a free inter-terminal bus if not airside. Note: Beijing has two airports; Capital (PEK) and Daxing (PKX) are not connected by convenient transport.

Beijing Climate

Humid continental climate with cold, dry winters (−8 to 2°C) and hot summers (28–35°C). The primary flight disruption risks are winter fog and smog (November–February, heavily air quality-dependent), summer thunderstorms (July–August), and spring sandstorms from the Gobi Desert (March–May) that can reduce visibility rapidly.

Fall (September–October) brings clear skies and minimal disruptions. The 2022 Winter Olympics improved Beijing's snowfall preparedness. Fog and smog remain serious delay causes through winter.

IAD–PEK Quick Facts

Key statistics for the Dulles to Beijing route.
Route details
Distance6,906 mi / 11,113 km
Flight time15h 49m
Time difference+12 hours
Airlines (nonstop)1
Weekly flights2 out / 2 return
1-stop connections37 hubs
Origin: IAD
IATA / ICAOIAD / KIAD
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
Passengers/yr26.0M
Elevation312 ft / 95 m
Destination: PEK
IATA / ICAOPEK / ZBAA
TimezoneAsia/Shanghai
Passengers/yr67.3M
Elevation116 ft / 35 m

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about IAD to PEK flights.
Nonstop flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Beijing Capital International Airport take approximately 15h 49m. The route covers 6,906 miles.
1 airline operates nonstop service: Air China.
There are approximately 2 nonstop flights per week from IAD to PEK. The return direction has about 2 weekly flights.
Yes, 1-stop connections are available through BER, MXP, GYD, BUD, WAW, EDI, YVR, ATH, DUB, BRU, CAI, PVR, BCN, VIE, CPH, GVA, FRA, MUC, JFK, MAD, AMS, LHR, LAX, YYZ, CDG, RUH, FCO, ORD, AUH, IST, SEA, HND, ICN, DXB, SFO, ADD and TLV. These options provide additional schedule flexibility.
Beijing is 12 hours ahead of Dulles.
Yes, return flights from PEK to IAD are available. Use the direction toggle at the top to view the return schedule.
Click the 'Search Flights' button to check availability and prices on Google Flights. You can also compare airlines and schedules on this page to find the best option.
See the On-Time Performance section for the latest delay data at both airports. This shows departure and arrival reliability to help you plan.
Route data is updated regularly from official airline schedules. On-time performance data comes from recent airport delay snapshots.

Flights from IAD to PEK

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) are connected by nonstop service from Air China. With 2 weekly departures, this is a regularly served route.

IAD to PEK Flight Duration and Schedule

Nonstop flight time from IAD to PEK ranges from 15 hours 49 minutes. The route covers a distance of 6,906 miles (11,113 km). There are approximately 2 weekly flights outbound and 2 return, totaling 4 flights per week in both directions.

Connecting Options and Alternatives

37 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 15 hours via BER. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs.