India and China to Resume Direct Air Services in Late October 2025
Direct air connectivity between India and China is set to be restored by late October 2025, coinciding with the start of the winter season flight schedule. This decision,announced by the Ministry of External Affairs,aims to “further facilitate people-to-people contact between India and China,contributing towards the gradual normalisation of bilateral exchanges.”
The resumption marks the end of a suspension that began in March 2020, initially due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently prolonged by heightened tensions along the Line of Actual Control following the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020. While international flights to manny other destinations gradually resumed, services to China remained halted.
IndiGo has already announced plans to operate daily flights between Guangzhou and Kolkata, with connections to New Delhi anticipated pending regulatory approvals. Ticket sales for the kolkata-Guangzhou route will begin on October 3rd.Air India also expects to launch flights to shanghai before the end of the year.
The resumption of direct flights is expected to benefit both tourism and trade. For over five years, travelers have been forced to rely on more expensive and time-consuming connecting flights through hubs like Hong Kong and Singapore. Industry experts note that China is a significant source of outbound tourism,and the restored air links are particularly welcome as India works to regain pre-COVID inbound tourism levels (previously 11.5 million, currently at 9.5 million).
While Indian carriers have moved forward with applications, ther has been a delay in submissions from Chinese airlines such as air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and Shandong Airlines. Air China reportedly seeks permission to connect Beijing with Delhi and Mumbai.
The aviation industry operates on a schedule divided into summer (starting the last Sunday in March) and winter (starting the last Sunday in October) seasons,allowing airlines to plan and adjust flight offerings.
