Houston to Beijing (IAH–PEK) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

IAH Airport Page →
airlines charter/private
On-time Some delays Frequent delays
Connecting Flight Schedule 22 1-stop flights
No nonstop service between IAH and PEK. Nearest airports to IAH with scheduled service: William P. Hobby Airport (HOU, 24 mi) · Easterwood Field (CLL, 74 mi) · Jack Brooks Regional Airport (BPT, 79 mi)
Nonstop Charter / private 1-Stop 2-Stop Hide separate tickets Hide overnight Hide codeshares
  Flight Airline AC Dep Arr Dur OTP Sched  
✈ Nonstop

No flights match your filters.

No scheduled airline flights on this route — it's flown by charter / private operators (). No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.

✦ 1-Stop connections via 10 hubs
LAX Los Angeles 17h 23m AAAFBR CAUA Los Angeles (LAX) to Beijing flights
YYZ Toronto 17h 55m ACLXJOS CAHU Toronto (YYZ) to Beijing flights
SFO San Francisco 18h 41m EKNHNZ CAUA San Francisco (SFO) to Beijing flights
HND Tokyo 19h NH CACZJL Tokyo (HND) to Beijing flights
SEA Seattle 19h 12m ASBRJL HU Seattle (SEA) to Beijing flights
TPE Taoyuan 19h 31m BRN8 BRCACI Taoyuan (TPE) to Beijing flights
NRT Narita 20h 25m UAZG HUIJNH Narita (NRT) to Beijing flights
ORD Chicago 20h 51m AAASAV CA Chicago (ORD) to Beijing flights
IAD Dulles 20h 59m AVAZCA CA Dulles (IAD) to Beijing flights
CDG Paris (Roissy-en-France, Val-d'Oise) 21h 5m AFKLSV AFCA Paris (Roissy-en-France, Val-d'Oise) (CDG) to Beijing flights
1-STOP More options, longer trips
2-STOP Loading... Reach the hardest destinations
Houston to Beijing
Connecting service available through multiple hubs.
+13h ahead

While no nonstop service exists between IAH and PEK, 1-stop connecting options are available.

Connection Landscape

1-stop and 2-stop options for IAH to PEK.
1-STOP
One-Stop Connections
22
Hubs
~17h
Fastest
~41h
Longest
Verified with published schedule alignment and minimum connection time.
2-STOP
Two-Stop Connections
1,989
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
IAH → PEK
100%
Generally reliable. Most flights run on time.
Departing
100%
Return
PEK → IAH
100%
Generally reliable. Most flights run on time.
Arriving
100%
OTP = percentage of flights arriving within 15 min of schedule. Based on airport-level delay snapshots. IAH delays →

Travel Essentials

Practical planning for this route.
Time Difference
+13h
Beijing is 13 hours ahead of Houston.
IAH: CDT · PEK: CST

When it's 6:00 PM in Houston, it's 7:00 AM (next day) in Beijing.
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 IAH

IAH has no direct rail link to downtown Houston. The IAH Express bus runs from Houston Amtrak/Greyhound station via Park & Ride to Terminal C (60–90 min, $1.25 with METRO Q card). This is the only transit option; Houston's rail network does not reach the airport.Taxis from downtown Houston cost $50–70 and take 40–60 minutes. Ride-hails (Uber, Lyft) are typically $35–55. IAH sits 23 miles north of downtown on the North Freeway (I-45); traffic is heavy during morning and evening rush. Remote economy parking lots serve all terminals via shuttle.

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.

IAH–PEK Quick Facts

Key statistics for the Houston to Beijing route.
Route details
Time difference+13 hours
Airlines (nonstop)0
1-stop connectionsAvailable
Origin: IAH
IATA / ICAOIAH / KIAH
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
Passengers/yr46.7M
Elevation97 ft / 30 m
Destination: PEK
IATA / ICAOPEK / ZBAA
TimezoneAsia/Shanghai
Passengers/yr67.3M
Elevation116 ft / 35 m

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about IAH to PEK flights.
Yes, 1-stop connections are available, ranked by layover time. Common connecting points include Los Angeles, Toronto Pearson and San Francisco.
On a single ticket, yes. Your bags are checked through to PEK and move between planes without you. On two separate tickets you collect your bags at the connecting airport and recheck them, so build in extra layover time.
Beijing is 13 hours ahead of Houston.
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.

Connecting Options and Alternatives

1-stop connecting options are also available, commonly via Los Angeles, Toronto Pearson and San Francisco. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs.