India and China are set to resume direct flights between selected cities this month, ending a suspension that has lasted more than five years, according to India’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The move is seen as a careful step toward easing tensions between the two nations, which have experienced strained relations following border clashes in 2020.
Since 2020, no direct flights have operated between the two countries, despite China being India’s largest bilateral trade partner. The resumption of flights is expected to strengthen trade, tourism, and diplomatic connections. India’s largest airline, IndiGo, announced plans to start daily non-stop flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou on October 26, with additional services connecting New Delhi to Guangzhou also in the works.
This development comes after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China last month for the first time in seven years, attending a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a regional security bloc. During the visit, Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasised that India and China are partners in development rather than competitors, while discussing strategies to enhance trade amid global tariff uncertainties.
During the discussions, Modi highlighted India’s commitment to improving bilateral relations and expressed concerns about the country’s growing trade deficit with China, which currently stands at nearly $99.2 billion. He also stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability along the disputed border, where tensions escalated in 2020, leading to a five-year military standoff.
The revival of direct air links is expected to boost economic engagement, strengthen diplomatic dialogue, and offer a foundation for more consistent communication between the two countries. Analysts suggest that restoring air connectivity could support commerce, facilitate easier people-to-people contact, and contribute to stabilising broader regional relations.
