India and China Resume Direct Flights After Five-Year Suspension

Direct Flights Reinstated

Direct flight services between India and China are scheduled to resume by late October 2025, marking the end of a five-year suspension. Indian authorities announced the decision, which is seen as a significant step towards the gradual normalization of relations between the two populous nations. The resumption coincides with the upcoming winter aviation schedule.

India's largest carrier, IndiGo, has confirmed it will commence daily non-stop flights from Kolkata, India, to Guangzhou, China, starting October 26, 2025. The airline also plans to introduce services between New Delhi and Guangzhou, pending regulatory approvals. Additionally, Air India aims to restart non-stop flights connecting Delhi and Shanghai by the close of 2025.

Reasons for the Five-Year Hiatus

The suspension of direct flights initially began in 2020 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. However, unlike many other international routes, flights between India and China did not resume as bilateral relations deteriorated following the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020. This border confrontation led to a significant freeze in high-level political engagements and prolonged military and political tensions.

For the past five years, travelers between the two countries have had to rely on indirect routes, typically via hubs in Southeast Asia such as Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Hong Kong. This resulted in increased travel times and higher costs.

Significance for Bilateral Relations

The resumption of direct air links is viewed as a crucial component of India's 'approach towards gradual normalization of relations between India and China,' as stated by India's embassy to China and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

This development follows recent diplomatic efforts, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China in August 2025 for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, where he held a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. During these engagements, both leaders reportedly agreed that India and China are development partners, not rivals, and discussed strengthening trade ties. Furthermore, India had earlier resumed tourist visas for Chinese nationals, another step aimed at facilitating exchanges.

Future Outlook

The agreement between the civil aviation authorities is expected to boost people-to-people contact, facilitate cross-border trade, and strengthen economic cooperation between the two nations. Chinese carriers, including Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and Shandong Airlines, have also reportedly approached Delhi airport regarding the resumption of their flight services. The move is anticipated to address the high demand for travel between India and China, which has primarily been driven by business and trade interests.