India and China are set to resume direct commercial flights starting October 26, 2025, ending a five-year hiatus caused initially by the COVID-19 pandemic and exacerbated by border tensions. IndiGo Airlines will operate the first flights from Kolkata to Guangzhou, with services between Delhi and Guangzhou following shortly. China Eastern Airlines will restart its Shanghai-Delhi route from November 9.
Chinese officials have welcomed the resumption as a positive step demonstrating both nations’ willingness to deepen strategic, long-term cooperation and foster friendly exchanges among their combined population of over 2.8 billion.
The flights are expected to boost tourism, business travel, and cultural connections, helping to rebuild trust and collaboration between the two Asian neighbours.
Disrupted Ties and Diplomatic Efforts
Direct air services between India and China were suspended in early 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the pause extended due to rising diplomatic tensions following the violent Galwan Valley clash in eastern Ladakh in June 2020, which resulted in casualties on both sides and froze bilateral relations at their lowest point since the 1962 war.
Since late 2024, following a series of high-level diplomatic talks culminating in agreements to ease tensions and protocol on border patrols, efforts to normalise relations have intensified. The resumption of flights is a strategic confidence-building measure reflecting broader goodwill, including the recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, where both leaders expressed a commitment to view their countries as partners in development rather than adversaries.
Economic and Strategic Implications
The revival of direct flights is more than a logistical convenience; it signals a thaw in relations that could have positive repercussions for trade, investment, and regional stability.
Improved air connectivity is projected to facilitate smoother business transactions, tourism growth, and enhanced diplomatic engagements that are vital for economic integration within frameworks such as SCO, BRICS, and RCEP. Airlines like IndiGo and China Eastern are at the forefront of reconnecting cities critical to commerce and culture, including Kolkata, Delhi, Guangzhou, and Shanghai.
Officials emphasise that these steps will not only support people-to-people links but also serve as tangible proof of both nations’ commitment to strategic cooperation and peace in Asia.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun described the resumption as the “latest progress” in implementing the consensus reached between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their August 31, 2025, meeting in Tianjin.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The restart of direct flights between India and China represents a significant stride toward building bridges in a complex and often fraught relationship. It embodies the belief that dialogue, empathy, and meaningful exchange are essential for reconciliation and sustained peace.
Beyond governments, it is the interactions between ordinary citizens, businesses, and cultural groups that will lay the foundations for enduring harmony. This development challenges all stakeholders, leaders, and citizens alike, to nurture trust and common ground.
News in Q&A
Q1: What is happening with India-China direct flights?
Direct commercial flights between India and China will resume on October 26, 2025, ending a five-year break. IndiGo will launch daily non-stop flights from Kolkata to Guangzhou starting October 26, followed by Delhi to Guangzhou routes scheduled from November 10. China Eastern Airlines will resume its Shanghai-Delhi service from November 9, operating thrice weekly. This restoration marks the first direct India-China air connectivity since early 2020.
Q2: Why were flights suspended for such an extended period?
Flights were first suspended in early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The hiatus prolonged because of heightened diplomatic tensions after the deadly Galwan Valley clash in June 2020. These clashes led to a significant deterioration in bilateral relations and a military standoff, which delayed restoration of direct air links despite the easing of travel restrictions elsewhere.
Q3: How have officials responded to the flight resumption?
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun called the resumption “the latest progress” in implementing commitments reached by President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Guo described it as a positive step facilitating friendly exchanges among over 2.8 billion people of India and China. Indian officials welcomed the move as vital for people-to-people contact, economic cooperation, and gradual normalization of bilateral exchanges.
Q4: What led to the decision to restart flights now?
The resumption followed sustained technical-level talks between civil aviation authorities of both countries throughout 2025. It was endorsed at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin on August 31, 2025, where Modi and Xi Jinping agreed to view ties strategically and long-term. Disengagement agreements along the border and diplomatic efforts to ease tensions created a conducive environment for reviving direct connectivity.
Q5: What are the broader implications of restoring these flights?
Restarting direct flights is expected to boost trade, tourism, and cultural ties while signalling a thaw in the historically fraught India-China relationship. It supports cooperation frameworks like SCO, BRICS, and RCEP, and facilitates easier movement of people and goods between the two most populous countries, potentially fostering regional peace, economic growth, and strategic stability.
