China Southern Airlines to Resume Guangzhou-New Delhi Flights Ahead of BRICS Summit
China Southern Airlines announced on September 12, 2026, that it will resume regular passenger services on the Guangzhou-New Delhi route starting September 21, marking the relaunch of its India service after a six-year suspension. Reported by the Global Times, the decision comes ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to India for the BRICS summit, providing a significant boost to bilateral air connectivity following years of pandemic and geopolitical disruptions.
The Mechanics of Route Restorations Between India and China
Direct air connectivity between India and China has seen a phased recovery over recent months. Air China resumed its Beijing-Delhi service in April, serving as the second major route to restart following China Eastern Airlines bringing back its Kunming-Kolkata direct flight on April 18. Additionally, IndiGo launched daily nonstop service between Kolkata and Shanghai on March 30, building on its earlier network reinstatements connecting Kolkata and Delhi to Guangzhou. These aviation milestones follow the formal confirmation by the Ministry of External Affairs regarding the gradual resumption of direct commercial flights, which were paused during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent border tensions following the Doklam and Galwan standoffs.
For multinational corporations and trade organizations managing operations across these major Asian markets, stabilizing flight paths is a critical logistical necessity.
Diplomatic Backdrop at the BRICS Summit in New Delhi
Responding to an invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese leader Xi Jinping departed Beijing on Saturday to attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, according to coverage by Xinhua. Traveling alongside President Xi as part of his official delegation are Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Cai Qi, who serves both as director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and as a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. President Xi is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi, aiming to advance multilateral proposals on Global South cooperation.
BRICS functions as a primary economic coordination forum for major emerging economies, shaping unified positions on global governance, development, and trade. As diplomatic ties recalibrate and travel corridors reopen, trade enterprises and logistics providers are actively modernizing their supply chains.
Operational Expansion and Regional Footprint
Following the restart of the Guangzhou-New Delhi route, China Southern Airlines operates over 100 weekly flights across its eight round-trip routes in South Asia. This route relaunch highlights broader network adjustments by regional carriers.
As commercial aviation ties normalize between these manufacturing and economic powerhouses, businesses and expatriate professionals must continue to adapt to changing legal and logistical environments.