India and China Resume Direct Passenger Flights: A Milestone for Trade, Tourism, and Regional Connectivity

India and China are preparing to resume direct passenger flights by the end of October 2025, marking a major milestone in restoring cross-border connectivity and rebuilding bilateral confidence after nearly five years of suspension.

The move, jointly confirmed by India’s Ministry of External Affairs and China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, comes as part of a broader strategy to revitalize economic, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges between the two Asian giants.

Strategic and diplomatic context

The resumption follows a consensus reached at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting in Tianjin on August 31, 2025. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun described the initiative as a “cooperative pas de deux of the dragon and the elephant,” emphasizing the mutual commitment to strengthening long-term engagement.

Both governments appear to be prioritizing pragmatic cooperation even as broader geopolitical challenges remain. Improved connectivity is expected to enhance business travel, tourism, and diplomatic exchanges, while signaling to regional partners that India-China relations in 2025 are entering a more stable phase focused on shared growth and peace.

Guo noted that closer transport and trade links between the two countries – representing over 2.8 billion people – will promote regional stability and prosperity across Asia, aligning with the economic integration goals of the SCO, BRICS, and RCEP frameworks.

IndiGo leads the first route between India and China

IndiGo Airlines will operate the first direct service between Kolkata and Guangzhou, beginning October 26, 2025, using Airbus A320neo aircraft.

• Departure: 10:00 p.m. IST from Kolkata
• Arrival: 4:05 a.m. local time in Guangzhou

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This will be the first direct India-China flight since 2020, signaling renewed mobility for professionals, students, and tourists.

IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers described the move as “a significant step in strengthening our international network,” noting that it will “enable greater movement of people, goods, and ideas between two of the world’s fastest-growing economies.”

Industry observers expect additional routes connecting Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru to Chinese commercial hubs like Shanghai, Chengdu, and Shenzhen to follow during the winter 2025 schedule.

Additional flights

Apart from IndiGo, Air India has announced plans to resume direct flights to Shanghai before the end of 2025, expanding India’s long-haul connectivity with China. Government officials also confirmed that Akasa Air intends to launch its own routes to Chinese destinations in the near future, reflecting growing commercial interest in the India-China corridor.

Further, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has already approved China Eastern Airlines to operate five weekly Shanghai-Delhi passenger flights. Additional applications in the passenger category have been filed by Air China and Shandong Airlines, while China Southern Airlines and Sichuan Airlines have sought clearances to operate dedicated cargo flights between the two countries.

Economic and sectoral impact

Tourism and hospitality rebound

Before the pandemic, nearly 500 flights per month operated between major Indian and Chinese cities. The resumption is expected to revitalize bilateral tourism, with rising demand for cultural, wellness, and heritage travel.
Indian tourism stakeholders anticipate an influx of Chinese visitors, while Indian travelers gain direct access to China’s business, education, and retail markets.

Boost to bilateral trade and business travel

Direct air links will lower travel costs, shorten logistics times, and improve coordination for business delegations, sourcing teams, and after-sales service providers.
China remains a critical partner for India’s infrastructure, electronics, and machinery imports, while Indian pharmaceutical, IT, and professional service firms are well-positioned to expand into Chinese markets.

Support for services and supply chains

The reopening of routes supports smoother regional supply chain management. Cross-border business exchanges can now be conducted more efficiently, benefiting industries such as:

• Electronics and semiconductors
• Renewable energy and green tech
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing
• Engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC)

This is expected to improve services trade and investment facilitation between the two economies.

Diplomatic reset and confidence-building

The flight resumption forms part of a larger India-China bilateral reset in 2025, following years of limited engagement.

Recent initiatives include:

• Reopening border trade through the Lipulekh, Shipki La, and Nathu La passes.
• Resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, signaling broader normalization.
• Restoration of fertilizer, rare earth, and machinery exports from China to India, essential for key sectors.

Momentum for these steps accelerated after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Delhi (August 18-19, 2025), where agreements were reached to restart flights and update the India-China Air Services Agreement.

The Indian Embassy in Beijing confirmed via WeChat on October 2, 2025, that flights will resume “in line with the winter schedule,” pending operational clearances, and will “facilitate people-to-people contact and business exchanges.”

Expert insights: A symbolic yet strategic step

According to Liu Xiaoxue, Associate Research Fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the move carries strong symbolic significance.

Speaking to Global Times, Liu said: “As more routes reopen, the two sides are expected to see new growth momentum in tourism, services trade, and people-to-people exchanges. Given the complexity of China-India relations, cooperation and competition are likely to coexist, and future progress will require patience, pragmatism, and strategic foresight.”

The tourism, hospitality, and education sectors are expected to benefit first, followed by logistics, financial services, and professional consulting – areas that rely on physical presence and regular travel.

Business and investment advisory

For Indian companies

• Operational benefits: Improved logistics for supplier visits, trade fairs, and technical cooperation.
• Market entry opportunities: Growing demand for Indian wellness tourism, education, and cultural exports in China.

For Chinese companies

• Re-entry into Indian markets: Eased travel facilitates business development and investment missions in India’s consumer, automotive, and renewable sectors.
• Partnership facilitation: Simplifies joint ventures, technology transfer discussions, and cross-border due diligence.

For global investors

• Positive signal of normalization: Reflects improved diplomatic communication and a stable trade environment.
• Stronger regional integration: Enhances India and China’s roles as production and consumption hubs within Asia’s supply chains.

Regional outlook: Pathway to deeper connectivity

Reinstating India-China flights is more than a transportation update – it is a confidence-building measure signaling cautious normalization.
As routes expand, both countries could leverage this momentum to:

• Develop subnational cooperation between major industrial hubs (e.g., Bengaluru-Shenzhen, Chennai-Chengdu).
• Strengthen business tourism corridors and academic exchanges.
• Reinforce Asia’s connectivity and resilience within global supply networks.

Conclusion

The resumption of direct India-China passenger flights in 2025 marks a turning point in bilateral relations. It shows the readiness of both nations to move from cautious diplomacy to constructive engagement.

For businesses and investors, this development presents new opportunities in trade, travel, and collaboration, as India and China gradually re-open their skies and rebuild trust.

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