India-China Flights Set for Resumption After five-Year Hiatus
Table of Contents
New Delhi -โ After a five-year pause stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and escalating geopolitical tensions, India and China are preparing to reinstate direct air connections. Both IndiGo and Air India โare positioned to resume routes as โคsoon as final bilateral agreements are secured, potentially as early as september 2025.
A Thaw in relations
The anticipated resumption of flights underscores a warmingโ trend in relations between the two nations.Key cities expected to be reconnected include Delhi and Shanghai. This growth follows a period of strained diplomatic ties, particularly after the border clash in the galwanโค Valley in June 2020.
In October 2024, India โand China reachedโข an agreement on patrolling protocols โฃalong the Line of Actual Control (LAC), a โsignificant step toward de-escalating tensions โคthat had persisted for nearly four years. This diplomatic progress has paved the way for renewed discussions regarding airโค connectivity.
Did You Know? The Galwan Valley clashโข in 2020 resulted in casualties on โคboth sides and significantly impacted India-China relations,leading toโค economic and diplomatic โขrepercussions.
Airline Preparations
IndiGo โpreviously operated daily flights from Delhi to Chengdu until February 6, 2020, and from Kolkata to Guangzhou until โขFebruary 1, 2020. Air India maintained services from โDelhi to Shanghai during the same period. These routes were halted due toโฃ pandemic-related travel restrictions and the โsubsequent deterioration โคin bilateralโ relations.
IndiGo’s Chief Executive Officer, โคPieter Elbers, affirmed the airline’s โreadiness to reinstate services, stating, “IndiGo operated daily flights between India and China before the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline stands ready to resume these servicesโ as soon as bilateral arrangements between the two countries allow.” He emphasized the airline’s strategic focus โคon expanding its international network.
Air India isโค also preparing to re-establish its china routes, wiht the Indian government urging swift readinessโ from both carriers. โขThe potential routesโ under consideration include Delhi to Shanghai, Delhi to Chengdu, and Kolkata to Guangzhou.
Strategic and Economic Implications
The resumption โof direct โflights is expected to stimulate tourism,bolster business ties,and enhance people-to-people exchanges between theโ two Asian economic powerhouses. Currently, travelers face longer journeys and increased costs dueโฃ to the necessity of connecting flights through hubsโข like Hong Kong, Dubai, and Singapore.
Direct connectivity isโค anticipated to improve efficiency and strengthen bilateral relations.Thisโ timing isโ particularly relevant as India navigates trade complexities with the United States following tariff increases on Indian goods. The moveโ also aligns with india’s broader diplomatic initiatives, including the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin on August 31, 2025, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet with Chinese leaders.
Pro Tip: For travelers, direct flights typically translate to reduced travel time, lower costs, and aโค more convenient journey.
timeline of Key Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| February 2020 | IndiGo suspends flights toโ Chengdu and Guangzhou. |
| February 2020 | Air India suspends flights to Shanghai. |
| June 2020 | Galwan Valley clash escalates tensions between India and China. |
| October 2024 | India and China agree on LAC patrolling protocols. |
| January 27, 2025 | Initial agreement โขto resume flights stalled due to tensions with Pakistan. |
| September 2025 (Expected) | Official announcement and resumptionโค of flights anticipated. |
Looking โAhead
Final agreements regarding seat allocations, slot availability, and flight schedules are pending. An official โannouncement is expectedโค by early September 2025.Chinese carriers are also expected to reciprocate with resumed services, establishing a balanced aviation framework. This marks a pivotalโ moment after a five-year gap, demonstrating a mutual commitment to rebuilding ties.
What impact will the resumption ofโค these flights have on tourism between the two countries? Andโ how will this improvedโ connectivity โaffect โbroader economic relations?
The relationship โคbetween India and Chinaโฃ is one of the most complexโ and consequential in the world. while economic โขties remain strong, โขgeopolitical tensions have consistently presented challenges. The resumption of direct flights represents a cautious but significant step towards normalization, driven by mutual โขeconomic interests and aโ desire for regionalโค stability. The long-term success of this initiative will depend on continued diplomatic engagement and a commitment to resolving โคoutstanding issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What airlines are resuming flights between India and China?
- When are flights expected to start?
- which cities willโค be connected?
- why โwere flights suspended in the firstโ place?
- What is the meaning of this resumption?
IndiGo and Air India areโฃ the primary airlines preparing to resume direct flights.
An official announcement and the start of flights are anticipated by September 2025.
Potential routes include โฃDelhi to Shanghai, Delhi โขto Chengdu, and Kolkata to Guangzhou.
Flights wereโ initially suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently prolonged by geopolitical tensions following the Galwan Valley clash.
The resumption signifies a warming of relations between India and China and is expected to boost tourism, trade, and people-to-people exchanges.
we hope this article has provided valuable insight into this developingโค story. Share this articleโ withโข your network and join the conversation in the comments below!
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "NewsArticle",
"headline": "India-China Flights Setโ forโค Resumption after Five-Year hiatus",
"datePublished": "2025-08-16T00:00:00Z",
"dateModified": "2025-08-16T00:00:00Z",
โฃ "author": {
โ "@type": "Person",
"name": "World Today News Staff"
โ },
"publisher": {
"@type": โ"Organization",
"name": "world-today-news.com",
โฃ โ"url": "https://world-today-news.com"
},
"image": {
โฃ "@type": "ImageObject",
โฃ โฃ "url": "data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=" http:=""โ alt="" class="wp-image-91123" data-lazy-srcset="https://aviationa2z.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/w05jsnnh-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://aviationa2z.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/w05jsnnh-300x169.webp 300w, https://aviationa2z.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/w05jsnnh-768x432.webp 768w, https://aviationa2z.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/w05jsnnh-50x28.webp 50w, https://aviationa2z.com/wp-content/uploads/20