Resumed India–china Flights Boost Ties | Skyone Blog

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Resumed air routes between India and China set to strengthen Trade, Tourism, and Ties

When IndiGo launched flight 6E 1703/6E 1704 on the Kolkata–Guangzhou route on 26 October 2025, it marked a significant milestone as the first direct commercial flight from India to China in five years. Services between the two countries had been suspended since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and political tensions.

When operations resumed, Kolkata was chosen for its historic ties with the Chinese community in Tangra and its longstanding trade links with southern China. Meanwhile, China Eastern will also restart Shanghai–Delhi, followed by Delhi–Guangzhou. The resumption of direct connectivity between two powerful nations in the APAC has been widely welcomed. For Indian passengers, the new flight schedule reduces travel time by several hours.

During the suspension period, travellers often needed up to three connecting flights to complete their journey. The restored route now enables business travellers, students, tourists, and others to fly between the two nations in less than five hours, avoiding multiple layovers. ...
... Recently, Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong stated that the Chinese Embassy issued 2,65,000 visas to Indian citizens in 2025 and resumed facilitating pilgrimages to Kailash Mansarovar.

This allowed around 700 official pilgrims and 20,000 private pilgrims to undertake the journey this year. He also mentioned that bilateral trade in goods grew by 10.4 per cent year on year between January and August. These developments indicate that individual travellers and trade sectors stand to gain the most from the reinstated direct air corridor between the two nations.

This revitalised air corridor is a pivotal step in re-establishing vital connections between Asia’s largest nations, enabling greater convenience and promoting collaboration. Pre-pandemic, India and China together operated 2,588 flights, carrying nearly 1.25 million passengers in both directions. The Delhi–Shanghai route alone handled close to 1,49,000 travellers that year, showing just how strong the demand once was.

What’s also interesting is that, even during periods of political strain, trade between the two countries continued to grow. Between 2020 and 2023, it expanded by about 43 per cent, reaching roughly US$136 billion. China remains either India’s largest or second-largest trading partner, accounting for almost 14 per cent of total trade and serving as the main source of imports. With direct air services now back in operation, the flow of people and goods between the two sides is likely to gather pace once again.

From the perspective of economic partnership, the resumption of direct flights is likely to strengthen ties between the two nations. It will bring greater ease to key sectors such as electronics, renewable energy components, pharmaceuticals, and IT services, where both countries share strong business interests. The reopening of the direct air corridor could take this partnership to the next stage.

What remains to be seen is how the number of direct flights will gradually increase. Before the suspension of services, there were around 42 weekly flights connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata with destinations such as Guangzhou, Beijing, Kunming, and Shanghai. Once these routes are fully restored, the movement of IT professionals, supply chain executives, and business travellers is also expected to gain new momentum.

And for India Inc, the restart of direct air services brings a practical boost to cross-border engagement. It simplifies logistics, supplier visits, participation in trade fairs, and technical exchanges. The renewed routes also open greater possibilities for promoting India’s strengths in wellness tourism, education, and cultural outreach, which are steadily gaining traction among Chinese travellers and institutions.

On the other side, Chinese companies now have an improved channel to re-establish their presence in India’s expanding markets. The revival of connectivity is expected to support business and investment efforts in areas such as consumer goods, electronics, automotive production, and renewable energy. It may also pave the way for a rise in joint ventures and more focused discussions on technology transfer, giving a new dimension to bilateral commercial cooperation.

For global investors, this development signals a sense of stability in the trade environment. With smoother travel and logistics, they can better leverage the complementary strengths of India and China as key hubs for production and consumption across Asia. This renewed air corridor also helps reduce supply chain bottlenecks and ensures continuity in regional trade and investment flows.

In summation, the renewed connectivity between India and China reflects a positive shift that brings optimism across sectors such as trade, tourism, and education. Another encouraging sign is that more direct routes, including Mumbai–Beijing, are being considered for 2026. However, these additions will depend on factors such as passenger demand, regulatory approvals, and the overall diplomatic climate.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author/authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of ET Edge Insights, its management, or its members

Source: The Tribune