China- India
The skies between Asia’s two largest nations are set to reopen after a nearly five-year hiatus, as India and China have confirmed the resumption of direct flights starting from the end of October. This significant move marks a tangible step towards the gradual normalisation of bilateral exchanges, offering a massive reprieve to business travellers, students, and families who have been forced to endure expensive, lengthy connecting routes. The highly anticipated return of direct air connectivity is scheduled to coincide with the commencement of the international winter season flight schedule.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India officially announced the agreement on Thursday, confirming that the civil aviation authorities of both countries have been engaged in detailed, technical-level discussions since the beginning of the year. The outcome is the mutual decision that “direct air services connecting designated points in India and China can resume by late October 2025,” subject to the commercial decisions of the designated carriers and the fulfilment of all operational requirements.
Historic Hiatus Ends Amidst Diplomatic Thaw
The suspension of direct flight services dates back to the early months of 2020, initially triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the subsequent, prolonged freeze in air links was largely attributed to the severe deterioration of bilateral relations following the deadly military standoff in the eastern Ladakh border region in June 2020. The absence of direct flights transformed a short journey into an arduous, multi-stop voyage, often through hubs in South or Southeast Asia, leading to sky-high fares and exhausting travel times for passengers.
The breakthrough in the aviation sector is viewed by analysts as a key indicator of a tentative diplomatic thaw between Beijing and New Delhi. This decision follows a series of recent incremental efforts aimed at stabilising relations, including the Indian government’s move in July to resume issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals, and the gradual normalization of high-level diplomatic and military dialogues. A recent ice-breaker meeting between the leaders of the two countries during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit is also cited as having set the stage for renewed connectivity.
IndiGo Leads the Charge, Air India to Follow
India’s largest carrier, IndiGo, was quick to announce the detailed schedule for the first batch of resumed services, taking the lead in re-establishing the air bridge.
* First Flight Confirmed: IndiGo will launch daily, non-stop flights connecting Kolkata (India) to Guangzhou (CAN) in China, with the first flight slated to take off on October 26, 2025.
* Expansion Plans: The airline has also outlined plans to introduce direct flights between Delhi and Guangzhou shortly thereafter, pending necessary regulatory approvals, with the intent to eventually operate double daily services on both the Delhi and Kolkata routes to the major Chinese trade hub.
* National Carrier’s Return: Meanwhile, India’s flagship carrier, Air India, is also finalising plans to resume its services to China before the end of 2025. Sources indicate that the Delhi–Shanghai route—a critical pre-pandemic international service—is expected to be the first to reopen for Air India.
Chinese carriers, including Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and Shandong Airlines, are also seeking permissions from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to resume their services, a move that would further normalize flight volumes, which once saw over 500 direct flights per month operating between the two countries in late 2019.
A Boost for Trade and People-to-People Contact
The resumption of flights is expected to yield immediate and significant economic benefits. The re-established air links will facilitate cross-border trade, ease movement for businesspeople, and support strategic partnerships between the two world powers. For students and expatriate workers, who faced immense logistical and financial burdens travelling via third countries, this marks an end to a nearly five-year ordeal. The MEA statement explicitly highlighted that the agreement will “further facilitate people-to-people contact between India and China, contributing towards the gradual normalisation of bilateral exchanges.”
The travel and tourism industry has expressed strong approval for the decision, noting the high pre-pandemic demand for travel between the two nations, which currently operates at less than half of its 2019 levels. The re-opening of this crucial air route is a significant component in the broader efforts to rebuild confidence and strengthen economic cooperation between Asia’s two economic giants.
Headline Points
* Five-Year Freeze Ends: India and China agree to resume direct flights by late October 2025, ending a nearly five-year suspension caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent border tensions.
* Normalization Signal: The decision is widely seen as a significant step towards the “gradual normalisation of bilateral exchanges” and follows recent high-level diplomatic engagements.
* IndiGo’s First Route: India’s largest carrier, IndiGo, will launch the first resumed service with a daily, non-stop flight from Kolkata to Guangzhou starting October 26, 2025.
* Future Connectivity: IndiGo plans to add a Delhi-Guangzhou route, while Air India is expected to restart its Delhi–Shanghai service before the end of the year.
* Economic Relief: The restoration of air links will immediately reduce travel time and cost for thousands of students, businesspeople, and families who have been relying on lengthy connecting routes.
