China and India to Resume Direct Flights After Five-Year Hiatus

Direct Flights Set to Resume

China and India are poised to resume direct commercial flights by late October 2025, marking the end of a five-year suspension. The decision, announced by India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on October 2, signifies a significant step towards the gradual normalization of relations between the world's two most populous countries. Flights are expected to restart in conjunction with the upcoming winter aviation schedule, which commences on October 26.

Reasons for the Hiatus and Path to Resumption

Direct air services between the two nations were initially halted in early 2020 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. However, the suspension was prolonged and exacerbated by escalating diplomatic tensions, particularly following the deadly Galwan Valley border clash in June 2020. This confrontation resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian troops and four Chinese soldiers, freezing bilateral ties. Travelers between India and mainland China have since been compelled to use connecting flights via third-country hubs such as Hong Kong, Singapore, or Bangkok, leading to increased travel times and costs.

The path to resumption has involved ongoing technical-level discussions and diplomatic engagements throughout 2025. A key development was Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China last month, his first in seven years, to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. During this visit, he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where both leaders reportedly agreed that India and China should be 'development partners, not rivals'. India had also lifted restrictions on tourist visas for Chinese nationals earlier this year, and China permitted Indian pilgrims to visit sites in the Tibet autonomous region, further indicating a thaw in relations.

Airlines and Initial Routes

Several airlines have already announced plans for the renewed connectivity:

• IndiGo, India's largest airline, will launch daily flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou starting October 26. The airline also intends to introduce services between New Delhi and Guangzhou in the near future.
• Air India aims to resume nonstop flights connecting Delhi and Shanghai before the end of the year.
• Chinese carriers, including China Eastern, China Southern, and Air China, are also expected to re-establish routes. China Eastern has reportedly received permission for five weekly flights between Shanghai and Delhi.

The resumption of these flights is anticipated to significantly boost 'people-to-people exchanges' and facilitate trade and business between the two economic giants, which had been hampered by the lack of direct air links.