IndiGo Resumes Direct Flights Between India and China After 5-Year Pause
IndiGo will commence direct flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou from October 3, marking the resumption of air links between India and China after a five-year pause. The Indian and Chinese governments have jointly decided to restart flights, with details on other involved airlines like United Airlines, Delta, Southwest Airlines, and American Airlines still to be announced.
The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the decision to resume direct flights, with the first service scheduled for October 26, 2025. This move aims to support travel and restore bilateral exchanges between the two nations. China is a significant source of tourists for India, and the restart comes as inbound tourism is yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels.
During the suspension, travellers had to rely on connecting flights via third countries such as Hong Kong and Singapore. The restoration of air services follows months of technical discussions and a recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping. Direct flights were initially suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent border tensions. Air India is also expected to start services between India and Shanghai before the end of the year. Both tourism and trade sectors have welcomed the announcement of resumed direct flights.
IndiGo's new route from Kolkata to Guangzhou will facilitate direct travel between India and China, benefiting both countries' tourism and trade sectors. The restart of direct flights comes after extensive discussions and a high-level meeting, with more airlines like Delta Airlines expected to follow suit in the coming months.
