China and India resume direct flights after five-year hiatus

International

New air links expected to strengthen trade, tourism, and cultural exchange

After five years without direct air connections, China and India have officially resumed flights between the two countries, marking a significant step toward normalizing bilateral relations.

The first non-stop daily service between Guangzhou and Kolkata took off on Sunday, operated by IndiGo, India’s largest airline. The inaugural flight departed from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (NSCBI) in Kolkata with 176 passengers on board, landing at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in southern China.

According to the Indian government, the move will boost people-to-people contact, facilitate business travel and tourism, and support the gradual normalization of exchanges between the two Asian giants.

A second route — Shanghai to New Delhi — is set to launch on Nov. 9, offering three weekly flights.

A gradual thaw after years of tension

Direct air services between India and China were suspended in early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The suspension was later extended following the June 2020 Galwan Valley clash, in which 20 Indian soldiers and an unconfirmed number of Chinese troops were killed in a violent border confrontation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Relations remained strained for years, with limited high-level dialogue and restricted travel. However, the October 2024 border agreement between New Delhi and Beijing eased military tensions and paved the way for closer economic and civil interactions.

The resumption of direct flights is widely viewed as a symbol of cautious rapprochement, reflecting both nations’ desire to revive trade, tourism, and interpersonal ties after years of geopolitical and pandemic-induced separation.