NewsGate Press Network

By Sushil Kr. Singh

If all goes as per the schedule, direct flights between India and China will resume from 26th of October later this month.

This follows the news released by the External Affairs Ministry (MEA) on 2nd of October 2025 stating that civil aviation services between the two countries are being resumed.

IndiGo is expected to operate the first flights, connecting Kolkata and Guangzhou starting October 26, 2025

The MEA’s statement says that – since earlier this year, as part of the Government’s approach towards gradual normalization of relations between India and China, the civil aviation authorities of the two countries have been engaged in technical-level discussions on resuming direct air services between the two countries and on a revised Air Services Agreement.

Following these discussions, it has now been agreed, the MEA statement added that direct air services connecting designated points in India and China can resume by late October 2025, in keeping with the winter season schedule, subject to commercial decision of the designated carriers from the two countries and fulfilment of all operational criteria.

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

It may recalled that since March 2020 India suspended all direct air links with China in wake of spread of COVID19 virus.

Before COVID-19, direct flights were operational connecting connected Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata with Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Kunming.

Key Indian carriers included IndiGo and Air India, while Chinese airlines like Air China, China Southern, China Eastern and Shandong.