Photo: IndiGo

Direct flights between India and the Chinese mainland will resume later this month, marking the end of a five-year suspension and a gradual step toward the normalization of ties, according to a press release issued by India’s Ministry of External Affairs on October 9.

From 26 October 2025, IndiGo, India’s largest airline, will operate a daily non-stop service from Kolkata, a major commercial hub in eastern India, to Guangzhou, the capital of China’s Guangdong province and a key economic center, using Airbus A320neo aircraft. Subject to regulatory approval, a second daily service linking Delhi with Guangzhou is expected to follow.

The move comes amid recent diplomatic engagement between India and China and is expected to support trade, business travel, and tourism between Asia’s two largest emerging economies.