After more than five years, India and China are re-establishing direct air connectivity in a major diplomatic and infrastructure milestone. The management of IndiGo Airlines has declared that a daily non-stop flight will begin operating on the Kolkata–Guangzhou route from October 26. This will provide passengers with a smooth journey between the two nations.
To further improve bilateral ties, talks are also in progress to open a second flight route between Delhi and a significant Chinese city. The move is being seen as a positive development in India–China diplomatic relations, which had hit a historic low following the 2020 border standoff in Ladakh and the suspension of direct flights due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A major step toward rebuilding diplomatic trust
Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China for the first time in nearly seven years to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. During their discussions, Modi emphasized that India and China are partners in progress, not rivals — a sentiment that observers believe paved the way for this renewed cooperation.
According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the resumption of flight services is not only a symbol of improving diplomatic trust but also a practical step toward enhanced people-to-people and economic exchanges. The ministry added that restoring direct flights will play a key role in normalizing bilateral relations between New Delhi and Beijing, which are gradually finding a path back to stability.
