New Delhi/Beijing, October 3, 2025 — After a five-year freeze, India and China are set to restore direct passenger flights later this month, marking a cautious but significant step towards normalising ties between the two Asian giants.
The first confirmed service will be launched by IndiGo on October 26, connecting Kolkata with Guangzhou. Other carriers, including Air India, are expected to follow, with plans to resume the Delhi–Shanghai route by year-end, subject to regulatory approvals.
Officials from both sides confirmed that only designated cities will be reconnected in the initial phase. Airlines must secure operational clearances and comply with bilateral aviation agreements before expanding further.
Direct flights were suspended in early 2020, first due to the global COVID-19 outbreak and later against the backdrop of a sharp downturn in relations after the deadly Galwan Valley border clash. Since then, travellers between the two countries have been forced to transit through third nations, adding cost and time.
Analysts see the move as more than just a transport deal. It is viewed as a confidence-building measure, aimed at rekindling people-to-people exchanges, easing business travel, and gradually reviving tourism and academic links.
Still, both governments are treading carefully. The restart of flights is not expected to erase lingering political tensions, but it is being welcomed as a long overdue step toward reconnecting two of Asia’s largest economies.
Quick Facts: India–China Flights at a Glance
First Route Resumes: Kolkata → Guangzhou
Start Date: October 26, 2025
Next in Line: Delhi → Shanghai (by year-end, pending clearance)
Why Suspended: COVID-19 pandemic & 2020 border clash
Initial Scope: Limited “designated cities” only
Significance: Restores direct travel, boosts business, student exchange & tourism
