India and China to Resume Direct Flights After Four-Year Suspension: A Step Towards Normalized Relations

New Delhi:

India and China have reached an agreement to resume direct air services by the end of this month, following extensive discussions between the civil aviation authorities of both nations. The India's Ministry of External Affairs announced this significant development today, coming after the recent breakthrough meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.

The ministry revealed that technical-level talks between aviation officials from both countries have been ongoing since earlier this year.

These discussions have primarily focused on restoring direct connectivity and finalizing a revised Air Services Agreement.

Under the newly established arrangement, designated carriers from both India and China will be authorized to operate direct flights between agreed destinations, beginning with the winter season schedule, provided they meet all operational and commercial requirements.

Following this diplomatic breakthrough, IndiGo announced plans to resume services to mainland China, with daily non-stop flights connecting Kolkata to Guangzhou starting October 26, 2025.

Pending regulatory approvals, IndiGo also plans to introduce direct flights between Delhi and Guangzhou in the near future.

IndiGo has stated that it will utilize its Airbus A320neo aircraft for these routes, which will help re-establish avenues for cross-border trade, foster strategic business partnerships, and promote tourism between the two nations.

This initiative is expected to significantly boost people-to-people exchanges that have been severely limited since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and subsequent border tensions between India and China. Officials emphasized that the resumption of air links would "contribute towards the gradual normalisation of bilateral exchanges."

Direct flights between these two major Asian nations had been suspended for over four years, disrupting business relationships, tourism opportunities, and academic exchanges.

The announcement represents a cautious yet notable improvement in diplomatic relations, which had remained tense despite ongoing diplomatic engagement.

This development comes against the backdrop of US-India trade negotiations and President Donald Trump's implementation of 50 percent tariffs against India.

The flight resumption is part of broader efforts by both governments to stabilize relations, with incremental steps aimed at rebuilding confidence and cooperation.

Analysts interpret this development as a practical measure that could potentially pave the way for enhanced economic and cultural interaction between the two countries.