After a more than five-year pause, India and China will resume direct air service later this month. Leading the comeback, Indian low-cost carrier IndiGo—led by CEO Pieter Elbers—will recommence daily flights on October 26, 2025, between Kolkata in eastern India and Guangzhou in southern China. Elbers noted this is a “very important step” and that IndiGo intends to introduce further direct routes into China.
The suspension of direct flights dates back to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Even after pandemic restrictions eased globally, flights between India and China never restarted, due in part to deep political tensions caused by border disputes and a sharp deterioration in bilateral relations. In August 2025, the two countries agreed in principle to restore air links—but at that time no concrete start date was announced.
What to Know About the Resumption
- The first route will be Kolkata → Guangzhou, operated daily by IndiGo starting October 26, 2025.
- Other routes are expected to follow, including Delhi ↔ Guangzhou, pending regulatory clearances and slot availability.
- Indian and Chinese airlines both have plans to reestablish services, depending on diplomatic, technical, and commercial arrangements.
- The resumption is part of a broader effort toward normalizing relations, facilitating trade, tourism, cultural exchange, and people-to-people contact.
- For years, travellers between India and China were forced to route via third countries (Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, etc.), adding time and cost to journeys. The return of direct flights will reduce travel time and potentially bring down airfares.
- Observers see this move as carefully cautious: both sides will watch how the initial flights perform before expanding operations further.
Why It Matters
- Diplomatic thaw: The flight resumption signals easing tensions, especially after India’s Prime Minister visited China in 2025, the first such trip in several years.
- Economic boost: Direct connectivity can spur bilateral trade, business travel, and investment, making it easier for executives, academics, and cultural exchanges.
- Airline opportunities: Airlines from both countries may compete to reclaim lost market share in this corridor, leading to more choice for flyers.
- Symbolic significance: Reopening the skies after a half decade underscores a gesture of goodwill and intention to repair damaged ties.
