India, China to resume direct passenger flights from October-end: MEA

India-China ties

India and China will restart direct passenger flights by the end of October 2025, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Thursday. The move is part of efforts to gradually normalise relations between the two neighbours after years of disruption.

Also Read - IndiGo to launch daily Kolkata-Guangzhou flights from October 26 as India-China direct flights resume

In a press note, the MEA said civil aviation authorities of both countries have been holding technical-level discussions this year on resuming air services and updating the Air Services Agreement. “Following these discussions, it has now been agreed that direct air services connecting designated points in India and China can resume by late October 2025, in keeping with the winter schedule, subject to commercial decisions of designated carriers and fulfilment of operational criteria,” the note stated.

The announcement comes against a complex geopolitical backdrop. India’s relations with the US have been strained after Washington recently doubled tariffs on Indian goods in response to New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil. At the same time, India has signalled a cautious thaw with Beijing, recently easing restrictions on tourist visas for Chinese nationals.

Direct flights between the two countries were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing passengers to travel through transit hubs like Hong Kong, Bangkok, or Singapore. The restoration of routes is expected to boost business, tourism, and people-to-people contact between Asia’s two largest economies.

This agreement between the civil aviation authorities will further facilitate people-to-people contact between India and China, contributing to the gradual normalisation of bilateral exchanges.

Meanwhile, IndiGo announced that it will begin daily non-stop flights from Kolkata to Guangzhou starting October 26, 2025. The airline stated: "Following the recent diplomatic initiatives, IndiGo announced the resumption of its services to Mainland China, connecting Kolkata to Guangzhou (CAN) with daily, non-stop flights starting 26 October 2025."

The airline added that it will also introduce direct flights between Delhi and Guangzhou shortly. IndiGo will use its Airbus A320neo aircraft to operate these flights that will re-establish avenues for cross-border trade and strategic business partnerships and promote tourism between the two nations.