India and China agreed on Wednesday to resume direct flights between designated cities by late October 2025, ending a five-year suspension triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and border tensions. The move, announced by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), starts with IndiGo’s daily nonstop Kolkata-Guangzhou flight on October 26. This IndiGo Kolkata Guangzhou flight restart in October will boost trade and tourism links in South Asia’s largest economies.
Why India China Flights Resume Matters Now
The resumption of India China flights comes at a pivotal moment for bilateral relations. China remains India’s top trading partner, with bilateral trade hitting $118.4 billion in the fiscal year ending March 2025, despite a $99.2 billion deficit for India. Suspended direct air links since March 2020 forced businesses and travellers to route through hubs like Hong Kong and Singapore, adding costs and delays.
For South Asia, where India anchors regional connectivity, this step eases supply chains for electronics, pharmaceuticals, and textiles, key imports from China. Tourism rebounds too: India’s inbound visitors stand at 9.5 million annually, down from 11.5 million pre-pandemic, with China as a major source market. Restored flights could lift these figures, fostering people-to-people ties amid ongoing border patrols in Ladakh.
IndiGo Kolkata Guangzhou Flight Restart in October Leads the Way
IndiGo, India’s biggest low-cost carrier, takes the lead in the India China flights resume. The airline announced on Thursday its daily non-stop service from Kolkata to Guangzhou begins October 26, 2025. Tickets go on sale from today, October 3. IndiGo plans to add a New Delhi-Guangzhou route soon, pending approvals.
In an official statement on X, IndiGo said: “We’re delighted to announce the resumption of our flights to China, with direct flights to Guangzhou from Kolkata starting 26th October, 2025 further strengthening our commitment to making air travel more accessible for our customers. We are thankful to the Ministry of Civil Aviation for their continued guidance and support.”
The route uses IndiGo’s Airbus A320neo fleet, covering 3,200 kilometres in about five hours. Guangzhou, a manufacturing hub dubbed the “factory of the world,” links to India’s eastern trade corridors. This IndiGo Kolkata Guangzhou flight restart in October addresses gaps left by the suspension, which hit small traders hardest. Exporters of spices, garments, and marine products from Kolkata faced 20-30% higher logistics costs via indirect paths.
The MEA confirmed the timeline aligns with the winter aviation schedule, starting the last Sunday in October. “It has now been agreed that direct air services connecting designated points in India and China can resume by late October 2025, in keeping with the winter season schedule,” the ministry stated. “This move will further facilitate people-to-people contact between India and China, contributing towards the gradual normalisation of bilateral exchanges.”
Broader Push for India China Flights Resume
Beyond IndiGo, other carriers eye slots under the updated Air Services Agreement. Air India aims to restart Shanghai flights by year-end, per industry officials. Chinese airlines, including Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, and Shandong, hold off on full applications but seek routes like Beijing-Delhi and Beijing-Mumbai.
The agreement stems from talks at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in September 2025. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines, stressing partnership over rivalry. Modi flagged the trade imbalance and urged border stability, referencing the 2020 Galwan clash that killed 20 Indian soldiers and escalated a military standoff.
Earlier discussions paved the way. In August 2025, bilateral talks in New Delhi between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi agreed to expedite flights and revise the air pact. Technical teams from both civil aviation authorities met multiple times this year, resolving slot allocations and safety protocols.
DD News, citing MEA sources, noted: “The decision follows a series of technical-level discussions held earlier this year between the civil aviation authorities of both countries on restoring flight connectivity and updating the existing Air Services Agreement. The move is expected to enhance travel and people-to-people exchanges, contributing to the ongoing efforts at rebuilding bilateral engagement.”
Background: Suspension and Its Toll
Direct India China flights resume after a turbulent hiatus. In March 2020, the pandemic grounded global aviation, but India’s ban on Chinese apps and investment scrutiny deepened the freeze post-Galwan. Air bubbles with 25 nations restarted from May 2020, yet India-China links stayed grounded amid distrust.
The void hurt economies. Indian firms imported $101 billion in goods from China last year, mostly via sea or indirect flights. Kolkata, a gateway to eastern India, lost direct access to Guangzhou’s ports, delaying shipments of auto parts and chemicals. Tourism suffered: Chinese visitors, numbering 250,000 pre-2020, dwindled to near zero. India’s July 2025 tourist visa resumption for Chinese nationals set the stage, with e-visas now processed in days.
In South Asia, ripple effects hit neighbours. Bangladesh and Nepal, reliant on India-China trade routes, saw higher freight rates. Resumed flights could cut transit times by 8-10 hours, per aviation experts.
What’s Next for Aviation Ties
More routes loom. The Air Services Agreement caps frequencies, but updates allow up to 100 weekly flights each way once phased in. IndiGo eyes expansion to Shenzhen, while Vistara and SpiceJet scout opportunities. Chinese regulators must greenlight slots, a process delayed by Beijing’s caution.
Bilateral trade talks continue, with India pushing fairer terms. At SCO, Modi and Xi committed to de-escalation along the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control. Flight resumption tests this goodwill, potentially unlocking $200 billion in annual trade by 2030, analysts say.
The India China flights resume marks a pragmatic pivot. As winter schedules kick in, passengers from Kolkata to Guangzhou will board the first leg of renewed skies, hinting at steadier horizons for two Asian giants.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, October 3rd, 2025
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