India and China have agreed to restart direct passenger flights between the two countries, a move hailed as a significant step toward restoring normalcy in their strained bilateral relationship. The suspension of air travel, which began in 2020, had compounded already fragile ties that were worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic and military tensions along the Himalayan border.
The agreement was formally announced this week following discussions between the civil aviation authorities of both countries. In a joint statement, officials noted that the resumption of flights would “further facilitate people-to-people contact between India and China, contributing towards the gradual normalisation of bilateral exchanges.”
India’s civil aviation ministry echoed the sentiment in a post on social media, saying the reopening of air corridors would “greatly enhance air connectivity, support people-to-people exchanges and contribute to the strengthening of economic collaboration” between two of Asia’s fastest-growing economies.
Sources familiar with the matter revealed that Indian low-cost carrier IndiGo and China Eastern Airlines are expected to be the first two carriers to resume services. According to the same sources, Beijing made the restoration of direct flights a priority during recent diplomatic engagements, stressing that improved air links are essential to revitalising economic and trade ties.
IndiGo has already confirmed its plans, announcing daily non-stop flights from Kolkata to Guangzhou beginning October 26. The airline added that subject to regulatory approvals, it also intends to operate flights between Delhi and Guangzhou, a move that will strengthen links between two major urban and economic hubs.
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers welcomed the breakthrough, saying: “We are proud to be among the first to resume direct connectivity to China from two points in India. This will once again allow seamless movement of people, goods, and ideas, while strengthening bilateral ties between the two of the world’s most populous countries and fast-growing economies.”
The airline said the services would be operated using Airbus A320neo aircraft. It also highlighted that since IndiGo had flown to China before the pandemic, it already had many of the necessary infrastructure and operational processes in place to ensure a smooth restart.
Direct flights between the two countries were halted in early 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic spread globally. The freeze continued even after pandemic restrictions eased, as tensions between India and China flared in April and May of 2020 following deadly clashes in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley. At one point, both nations deployed nearly 50,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control, pushing bilateral ties to their lowest point in six decades.
While disengagement agreements reached in late 2022 led to de-escalation in some flashpoints, relations remained cautious and limited in scope. Analysts say the decision to resume air connectivity reflects a mutual recognition that practical cooperation is necessary, even if broader political differences remain unresolved.
Prior to the suspension, several airlines operated direct services between India and China, including Air India, IndiGo, Air China, China Southern, and China Eastern. These routes connected key cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, serving not only tourists but also a significant community of students and business professionals.
Observers note that the revival of flights carries both practical and symbolic weight. On the practical side, it will directly benefit business executives, traders, students, and families separated for years, while on the symbolic side, it signals that both governments are willing to make incremental moves to stabilise ties.
Trade experts point out that the resumption of flights is likely to bolster economic exchange at a time when India and China remain major partners despite political frictions. India imported more than $100 billion worth of goods from China in 2023, while Indian exports to China stood at just under $17 billion, underscoring an imbalance but also a deep interdependence.
For now, the return of direct air services is being widely welcomed as a rare bright spot in otherwise fraught relations. Whether this momentum will extend into other areas of cooperation remains uncertain, but aviation officials in both countries stress that the move is a crucial first step toward rebuilding mutual trust.
