India-China Reconnect: Direct Flights Resume After Five years

Introduction

Welcome to Untoldnow — where every journey becomes a story worth telling,today we will discuss India-China flight reconnection. Over 6 years of air disconnection have passed after which India and China have re-established direct business flights between their territories. On 26 October 2025, the first service in this new chapter was launched, which was a definite milestone in the bilateral relations of the two Asian neighbours.

Background: Rationale? Why the Suspension?

In early 2020, flights between China and India were cancelled as an effort to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic all over the world. 

The case was worsened by the increased border tension, as it was especially the fatal conflict in June 2020 in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh, where Indian and Chinese forces were engaged in a violent conflict. 

IndiaChina direct connectivity was not restored even after many countries have resumed international flights because of both pandemic restrictions and strategic reserve. 

What’s Changing -The Routes and Details.

The original route was reinstated: IndiGo declared non-stop flights between Kolkata (CCU) and Guangzhou (CAN) starting 26 October 2025, on the Airbus A320neo. 

A second long-haul connection: The Delhi-Shanghai connection will begin 9 November 2025 and will fly three times a week (Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays). 

Fares: One way cost in economy service (e.g. Kolkata-Guangzhou) is approximately INR 14,492 and Delhi-Shanghai is approximately INR 18,000-20,000 (prices fluctuate with demand). 

Flight times: 4 hrs. 10min Kolkata-Guangzhou, 5 hrs. 30min Delhi-Shanghai. 

Why It Matters — Implications

1. Connection and Travel between People.

Direct flights save time, money and complexity to the business traveller, students, tourists, and diaspora who used to pass through other nations. 

2. Trade & Economic Ties

The enhanced air connectivity is an indicator of the wish to re-establish elements of the economic relationship: trade delegations, supply-chain connection, business travel are simplified. In some way, India is still the key trading partners of China, and connectivity helps them. 

3. Diplomatic / Strategic Message.

The re-establishment of direct flights is being viewed as an indicator of the warming of the relationship between the two countries. Indicatively, the foreign ministry of China described the move as a positive step in establishing friendly interaction between the two countries having a total population of over 2.8 billion. 

4. Challenges & Cautions

As flights are recommenced, full connection between different routes is never likely to be reached soon. Numerous destinations that pre-2020 (Beijing, Kunming, Mumbai etc) had were not fully re-established. 

India Today

There are still geopolitical tensions: The border conflicts, strategic rivalry, and the trade imbalance are still lurking in the relations between India and China. Their solution is not due to air connectivity alone.

Operation/ logistical problems: There are yet to be handled approvals, bilateral air-services agreements, aircraft availability, and other regulatory clearances.

What to Watch Forward

Will Indian cities (Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai) roll out direct flights to the Chinese cities (Beijing, Chengdu, Kunming)?

Will Chinese carriers add Indian flights (e.g., China Southern, Air China) and flights and thereby increase competition and further lower fares?

Will there be a substantial pick-up in tourism exchange -Chinese tourists to India (in particular, the north and east of India) and Indian tourists to China (study, business, travel)?

Such connectivity revival will help to increase bilateral cooperation in other areas: education, culture, investment, infrastructure.

The importance of external factors: global geopolitics (US-China competition), supply-chain realignments, pandemic-preparedness and domestic aviation infrastructure in the two countries.

Conclusion

The direct flights that India and China have resumed five years later is not merely a logistic or business gesture, but a symbolic and realistic indication of re-finding balance in their relationship. Although, this does not imply that all the tensions are resolved, it does provide avenues of travel, trade and exchange which were mostly inactive. This translates to fewer hurdles to the passengers, businesses and institutions on both sides as well as an opportunity to the policymakers to rebuild trust with connection.

With the spread of these routes, the larger effect on the economy, diplomacy and the cultural exchange will become evident. At Untoldnow, we hope you leave inspired, curious and ready for your next story. Until then, keep exploring, keep discovering.