Flights between India and China set to resume after five-year hiatus

Following recent diplomatic efforts to restore ties between India and China, Indian low-cost carrier IndiGo announced on October 2, 2025, the resumption of services between the two countries. The airline said, as a consequence of the warming in international relations, it would be connecting Kolkata (CCU) to Guangzhou (CAN) with daily, non-stop flights starting on October 26, 2025. The new flights remain subject to regulatory approvals.

A statement issued by the carrier said that IndiGo will use its fleet of  Airbus A320neo aircraft to operate these flights, and that the resumption of services “will re-establish avenues for cross-border trade and strategic business partnerships and promote tourism between the two nations.”

There have been no direct air services between the two countries since 2020, when skirmishes along the ill-defined Himalayan border between India and China led to the deaths of both Chinese and Indian soldiers. The 2,100-mile (3,440km) long border has for many years been subjected to overlapping territorial claims. It was the first fatal confrontation between the two sides since 1975 and led to a freezing of ties between the two nations.

However, over the past year or so, Delhi and Beijing have been working towards rebuilding ties, including taking steps to de-escalate tensions at the border and reestablishing business ties between the two nations. It is understood that high-ranking officials from the two sides have held several rounds of talks and meetings in recent months with a view to restoring diplomatic ties.

GCMap.comWhat the parties are saying

On a social media post, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, said, “India and China will resume direct air services by the end of October 2025, aligning with the winter schedule. This follows continuous technical-level engagement between civil aviation authorities as part of broader efforts to normalize bilateral ties.”

“The move will greatly enhance air connectivity, support people-to-people exchanges, and contribute to the strengthening of economic collaboration between the two countries.”

IndiGo previously operated flights between India and China before the pandemic and has many of the necessary arrangements and processes already in place.

“The past experience and familiarity with local partners will enable IndiGo to resume these flights swiftly,” said an IndiGo statement. “As part of IndiGo’s rapid global expansion, the resumption of operations to Guangzhou represents a significant development in strengthening international connectivity from India and reinforcing its commitment to broadening its global footprint.”

Markus Mainka / ShutterstockPieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo, said, “We are delighted to announce the resumption of daily, non-stop flights between India and mainland China. We are proud to be amongst the first to resume direct connectivity to China from two points in India.”

Speaking on the bilateral relations between the two countries, Elbers said, “This will once again allow seamless movement of people, goods, and ideas, while also strengthening bilateral ties between the two of the world’s most populous countries and fast-growing economies. With this very important step, we are looking at introducing more direct flights into China. As we take steady strides towards becoming a global aviation player, this is a significant move to strengthen our international network.”

In August 2025, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China for the first time in seven years at the defence summit, the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO). He also met Chinese President Xi Jinping at the sidelines of the summit, and the two reiterated their commitment towards normalising India-China ties.

Tickets for flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou opened for sale to the public from October 3, 2025.

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