India-China Direct Flights to Resume in October 2025 After Five-Year Suspension

Direct flights between India and China will resume by late October 2025, after being suspended for five years due to COVID-19 and the 2020 border clash.
The announcement was made by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on October 2, 2025.
Resumption follows technical-level talks and a revised Air Services Agreement between Indian and Chinese aviation authorities.

IndiGo will start daily non-stop flights from Kolkata to Guangzhou on October 26, 2025, using Airbus A320neo aircraft. A Delhi-Guangzhou route will follow, pending regulatory approval.
Air India plans to resume flights from Delhi to Shanghai by the end of 2025, subject to final approvals.
Chinese airlines, including Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, and Shandong Airlines, have approached Indian authorities to resume services, but schedules are not yet confirmed.

MEA: "Direct air services connecting designated points in India and China can resume by late October 2025, in keeping with the winter season schedule, subject to commercial decisions of designated carriers and fulfillment of operational criteria."
The move follows diplomatic talks in 2025, including PM Modi’s visit to China for the SCO Summit and a meeting with President Xi Jinping in Tianjin.
Modi emphasized the importance of peace at the border and raised concerns about India’s $99.2 billion trade deficit with China.

Restores people-to-people contact, helping families, students, and pilgrims, including those applying for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra visas.
Expected to boost trade, tourism, and business ties, especially for Indian traders sourcing goods from China.
Part of broader normalization in India-China relations, including resumed visa issuances and border dialogue.