India and China resumed direct flights on Monday, October 27, 2025, when IndiGo’s inaugural Kolkata to Guangzhou service touched down with 180 passengers. The move ends a five-year halt triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic and a 2020 border clash. It stems from August agreements to boost people-to-people contacts, with China Eastern Airlines set to follow in November.
This resumption of India China direct flights in October carries weight for South Asia. It revives a vital corridor for trade worth billions, eases tourism bottlenecks, and underscores a diplomatic pivot that could stabilise regional security. For economies like India’s, reliant on Chinese imports, quicker air links cut logistics costs and spur growth in eastern hubs like Kolkata.
IndiGo Kolkata Guangzhou First Flight Lands Amid Cheers
IndiGo flight 6E 1703 departed Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata at 11:45 PM on Sunday, October 26, 2025. It covered 2,800 kilometres in under five hours, arriving at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport at 5:40 AM local time on Monday.
The aircraft, an Airbus A320, carried 180 passengers, including business travellers and families. One passenger, Rajesh Kumar, a Kolkata-based exporter, told reporters the direct hop slashed his transit time from 12 hours via Bangkok. “This changes everything for supply chains,” he said.
IndiGo plans daily operations on this route through the winter schedule, ending March 2026. The airline, India’s largest by market share, positions Guangzhou as a gateway to southern China.
The launch aligns with IndiGo’s expansion into China, its 24th international destination. In a statement, IndiGo chief executive Pieter Elbers said: “We are thrilled to reconnect India and China, fostering stronger economic bonds.” This IndiGo Kolkata Guangzhou first flight symbolises the broader India China air links thaw after five years.
India China Air Links Thaw 5 Years After Tensions
Direct passenger flights between India and China halted in March 2020 amid global lockdowns. A June 2020 skirmish in the Galwan Valley, which killed 20 Indian soldiers, deepened the freeze. No flights resumed despite partial cargo services.
Bilateral aviation talks stalled until mid-2025. On August 19, 2025, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Beijing, his first in seven years. Days later, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reciprocated in New Delhi. These exchanges yielded a pact on border patrols and visa relaxations for Chinese tourists.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed the air services agreement update on August 20, 2025. It allows up to 50 weekly flights each way, pending slot approvals. “This facilitates people-to-people contact and gradual normalisation of exchanges,” a ministry spokesperson stated.
Data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation shows pre-2020 peak traffic hit 1.2 million passengers annually. Resumed India China direct flights in October could recapture half that volume by 2027, per industry estimates. Trade between the nations topped USD 136 billion last fiscal year, with India importing electronics and machinery.
China Eastern Joins the Route Expansion
China Eastern Airlines will launch Shanghai Pudong to Delhi Indira Gandhi International thrice weekly from November 9, 2025. Flights MU 239 and MU 240 will use Boeing 787 Dreamliners, seating 280 passengers.
The carrier, a Star Alliance member, eyes Delhi as a hub for northern India. “We look forward to welcoming passengers back,” a company official said in a release. This complements IndiGo’s southern focus, balancing the network.
Both airlines coordinate under the updated bilateral pact, signed in August. The Civil Aviation Administration of China endorsed the schedule last week. For South Asian carriers, this opens codeshare opportunities. Air India and others may add frequencies by year-end.
Background: From Freeze to Flights
The 2020 Galwan clash strained ties, leading to infrastructure build-ups along the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control. Yet, economic interdependence persisted. India sources 15 per cent of its imports from China, including pharmaceuticals and solar panels.
Post-clash disengagements in 2021-2024 paved the way. A October 2024 border patrolling accord halted further escalations. Aviation normalisation fits this pattern, alongside resumed Kailash Mansarovar Yatra visas.
Pre-pandemic, 14 Indian cities linked directly to 10 Chinese ones. Guangzhou, a manufacturing powerhouse, hosted weekly services from Delhi and Mumbai. The IndiGo Kolkata Guangzhou first flight revives eastern connectivity, vital for Bengal’s jute and tea exports.
Challenges remain. Visa processing for Chinese nationals takes 4-6 weeks, per immigration data. Fuel surcharges and monsoon delays could hit schedules.
What’s Next for India China Direct Flights Resume October
More routes loom. IndiGo eyes Shenzhen by December, while Air India plans Chengdu. Full capacity may take 18 months, aligning with G20 pledges on sustainable aviation.
This thaw boosts South Asia’s USD 4 trillion economy. Faster links cut cargo times, aiding just-in-time manufacturing. As one diplomat noted: “Flights fly where trust rebuilds.” The India China direct flights resume in October heralds a pragmatic reset, promising commerce over confrontation.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, October 27th, 2025
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