India And China Prepare To Resume Direct Passenger Flights After Five-year Suspension As Airlines File For Approvals

Published on September 3, 2025

India and China Set to Resume Direct Flights After Five-Year Suspension

Direct rider flights betwixt India and China, which person been grounded for complete 5 years, are preparing for a long-awaited return. Multiple Chinese airlines person begun nan support process to re-enter nan Indian market, while India’s IndiGo is besides gearing up to reconstruct services to cardinal Chinese cities. The move, expected to return effect this winter, could importantly reshape recreation and waste and acquisition dynamics betwixt nan 2 Asian giants.

Chinese Carriers Eye Return

Several starring Chinese airlines are lining up to resume operations. Air China is readying flights from Beijing, China Eastern Airlines from Shanghai, China Southern Airlines from Guangzhou, and Shandong Airlines from Kunming. Industry insiders person besides indicated that China Eastern whitethorn revive its Kunming–Kolkata route, adding to nan increasing database of imaginable services.

Meanwhile, India’s largest low-cost airline, IndiGo, has confirmed preparations to restart flights to Chengdu and Guangzhou. Before nan suspension, these routes were among its busiest world connections.

Regulatory Hurdles

For flights to resume, overseas carriers must unafraid caller operating permits from India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). This process requires elaborate submissions connected fleet capabilities, firm ownership, and operational readiness. Carriers must besides get information clearance from nan Bureau of Civil Aviation Security.

“Operating authorisation is valid for 5 years. Since Chinese airlines person not flown to India since early 2020, those approvals person expired and request to beryllium reapplied for,” an charismatic acquainted pinch nan matter explained.

Despite nan regulatory steps ahead, Chinese airlines are optimistic astir securing approvals successful clip for nan upcoming wintertime schedule.

Diplomatic Push

The revival of nonstop connectivity follows high-level negotiated talks betwixt New Delhi and Beijing. During a caller gathering connected nan sidelines of nan Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) acme successful Tianjin, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping confirmed plans to restart aerial links.

The talks carried symbolic weight arsenic well—this was Modi’s first sojourn to China successful 7 years. Analysts opportunity nan announcement reflects a strategical effort by some governments to rebuild economical and governmental bridges amid world uncertainties.

Economic and Trade Context

Resuming nonstop flights is seen arsenic a important measurement successful stabilizing waste and acquisition and finance flows betwixt Asia’s 2 largest economies. With U.S. tariffs and geopolitical tensions disrupting proviso chains, some nations are keen to diversify economical partnerships.

In caller months, India and China person signed agreements promoting cross-border finance and simplifying recreation arrangements. China has besides eased tourer visa rules and extended its 240-hour transit visa scheme, moves expected to pull much Indian business and leisure travellers.

Connectivity Before Suspension

Before services were halted successful February 2020, nan aviation marketplace betwixt India and China was good established. Chinese carriers operated 42 play flights into India, including Air China’s services from Beijing to Delhi and Mumbai, China Southern’s double-daily nexus betwixt Delhi and Guangzhou, China Eastern’s regular Shanghai–Delhi route, and Shandong Airlines’ 4 play flights from Kunming.

Indian airlines besides contributed to this traffic. Air India flew 5 times play from Delhi to Shanghai, while IndiGo maintained regular services to some Chengdu and Guangzhou.

The abrupt suspension forced passengers to trust connected indirect routes done 3rd countries.

Shift successful Travel Patterns

With nary nonstop flights available, hubs for illustration Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur became nan superior gateways for India–China travel. According to aviation data, Hong Kong and Singapore unsocial carried astir 60% of India–China transportation postulation past year. While these hubs provided alternatives, they besides added clip and costs to journeys.

Meanwhile, China’s inbound tourism has gained momentum pursuing caller visa-free introduction measures. Outbound recreation from China is besides gradually rebounding, though routes to nan United States stay restricted compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Looking Ahead

The reintroduction of nonstop services is expected to shorten recreation times, trim costs, and boost bilateral business activity. Analysts judge nonstop connectivity will besides use students, traders, and visitors who person agelong relied connected circuitous routes.

If approvals are granted connected schedule, flights could resume arsenic early arsenic nan wintertime season, restoring a captious aviation corridor that has been dormant for much than 5 years. The determination represents not conscionable nan reopening of skies, but besides a measurement toward renewed practice betwixt India and China astatine a clip erstwhile some nations are seeking stableness successful an uncertain world economy.