Key Takeaways
- Direct India-China flights resume after 5-year suspension starting Sunday
- IndiGo operates first Kolkata-Guangzhou flight; Delhi-Shanghai routes begin in November
- Resumption signals thaw in relations after 2020 border clash that killed 24 soldiers
India and China are restoring direct flight connectivity this Sunday, ending a five-year freeze that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. The resumption marks a significant step in normalizing relations between the Asian neighbors after prolonged border tensions.
Flight Services and Schedule
IndiGo, India’s largest carrier, will operate the inaugural daily flight from Kolkata to Guangzhou, scheduled for a 10 PM IST departure. Chinese embassy spokesperson Yu Jing confirmed the development on X, stating: “Direct flights between China and India are now a reality.”
Additional services connecting New Delhi to Shanghai and Guangzhou are expected to launch in November, significantly expanding travel options between the two nations.
Diplomatic Thaw and Background
The Indian government describes the flight resumption as part of its “approach towards gradual normalisation of relations between India and China.” Officials emphasize this will enhance “people-to-people contact” between the countries.
The breakthrough follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s September visit to China—his first in seven years—for a regional security forum. Relations had deteriorated sharply after the 2020 Himalayan border clash that claimed 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers’ lives, representing the deadliest violence in decades.
Recent Confidence-Building Measures
Both nations have taken several steps to repair ties:
- October 2023: Agreement on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control
- 2024: Resumption of Mansarovar Yatra pilgrimage
- End of tourist visa freeze
The reconciliation process received impetus from external trade pressures, including US tariffs on India over Russian oil purchases and Washington’s ongoing trade disputes with China. India has since diversified toward Chinese markets, with imports surging over 16% to exceed $11 billion last month.
