After a five-year pause, direct air travel between mainland China and India has officially resumed. On Monday morning, an IndiGo flight from India touched down in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, marking a significant step toward revitalizing bilateral economic, trade, and cultural exchanges.
The inaugural flight departed from India at 10:00 PM on Sunday and arrived in Guangzhou at 3:49 AM on Monday. According to IndiGo, the airline informed the Global Timesthat the flight was fully booked (100% load factor), carrying a mix of individual travelers, business professionals, and trade-related passengers.
IndiGo Expands Flight Operations Between India and China
IndiGo, one of the first carriers to re-establish routes between the two Asian giants, is gearing up to scale up its operations. The airline has announced plans to introduce a second daily non-stop flight between Delhi and Guangzhou, beginning November 10. These flights will be operated using IndiGo’s A320 aircraft.
This move is part of a broader trend of reviving air connectivity between the two countries. In tandem, China Eastern Airlines will also start a new route linking Shanghai and Delhi starting November 9. The Shanghai-Delhi route will be served by Airbus A330-200 wide-body planes, with flights operating on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
According to flight data provider VariFlight, shared with the Global Times, the total number of weekly flights between mainland China and India is set to rise to 17 by November 9.
Strong Industry and Government Support for Resumed Connectivity
Industry stakeholders have expressed strong optimism about the restored air links. Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, emphasized that the move will help strengthen ties between the world’s two most populous and fastest-growing economies.
Similarly, Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales at IndiGo, noted in an official statement that the airline believes the resumed and expanded flights will accelerate opportunities in trade, investment, tourism, and education between the two nations.
Meanwhile, China Eastern Airlines stated that the relaunch of the Shanghai-Delhi route will inject fresh momentum into people-to-people exchanges and economic collaboration.
Impact of the Five-Year Flight Suspension
The absence of direct flights over the past five years led to notably higher airfares and longer, more complicated travel itineraries. Guo Tao, a seasoned travel blogger, explained that prior to the suspension, the Kunming-Kolkata route was the most convenient option. However, during the interruption, travelers were often forced to transit through Hong Kong, making the journey time-consuming and significantly more expensive.
Strategic Importance for Bilateral Relations
Experts view the return of direct flights as more than just a transport convenience — it carries deep strategic and diplomatic implications.
Qian Feng, Director of the Research Department at Tsinghua University’s National Strategy Institute, described the move as a “timely aerial bridge” that helps realign the two countries toward mutually beneficial cooperation, following a period of stagnation.
He added that the restoration not only enhances personnel movement and trade ties, but also plays a crucial role in restoring political trust and people-to-people bonds. This, in turn, contributes to greater stability and sustainability in China-India relations and paves the way for practical, result-oriented cooperation.
From a political standpoint, Qian noted that the move signals a shift in India’s policy stance, moving away from viewing ties with China as a “zero-sum game” toward embracing a more cooperative, “win-win” approach.
Official Commentary from Chinese Foreign Ministry
In response to the development, Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, commented on Friday that the resumption reflects both countries’ commitment to implementing the important understandings reached between their leaders in Tianjin.
He described the move as a “positive step” that will facilitate friendly interactions among over 2.8 billion people in China and India.
Guo also emphasized China’s willingness to work with India to approach bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, ensuring steady progress that delivers tangible benefits for both nations and contributes to peace and prosperity across Asia and beyond.
