Direct flights between India and China resumed on October 27, 2025 — after a five-year suspension triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 Galwan Valley border clash. IndiGo flight 6E 1703 departed Kolkata airport at 10 PM and landed in Guangzhou with 176 passengers on board. China Eastern Airlines is set to resume Shanghai–Delhi flights from November 9, 2025, while IndiGo will launch Delhi–Guangzhou from November 10. The Indian government stated the restoration of flights will 'facilitate people-to-people contact' and aid the gradual normalisation of bilateral relations between the world's two most populous nations.
India–China Direct Flights Resume After Five-Year Hiatus — IndiGo's Kolkata–Guangzhou Inaugural Flight
AQuick answer
Direct flights between India and China resumed on October 27, 2025 — after a five-year suspension triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 Galwan Valley border clash. IndiGo flight 6E 1703 departed Kolkata airport at 10 PM and landed in Guangzhou with 176 passengers on board. China Eastern Airlines is set to resume Shanghai–Delhi flights from November 9, 2025, while IndiGo will launch Delhi–Guangzhou from November 10. The Indian government stated the restoration of flights will 'facilitate people-to-people contact' and aid the gradual normalisation of bilateral relations between the world's two most populous nations.
Key facts
- India-China direct flights resumed on October 27, 2025 after a five-year suspension.
- IndiGo flight 6E 1703 departed Kolkata at 10 PM and landed in Guangzhou with 176 passengers.
- The suspension was triggered by COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 Galwan Valley border clash.
- China Eastern Airlines will resume Shanghai-Delhi from November 9 and IndiGo adding Delhi-Guangzhou from November 10.
- The government stated the restoration will facilitate people-to-people contact between the two nations.
- The move aids gradual normalisation of bilateral relations between the world's two most populous nations.
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CoverageInternationalSubjectInternationalExamBasic Computer Instructor · CET Graduation · CET Senior Secondary · EO/RO · LDC · Mahila Supervisor · Patwar · PTI · RAS · REET · RPSC SI · School Lecturer · Senior Computer Instructor · Senior Teacher · UPSC · Vanpal · BothSourceCNN / Al Jazeera / South China Morning Post / Skift
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Linked questionEasy
Which IndiGo flight became the first scheduled service between India and China after the five-year suspension?
Explanation · Correct answer A
The article states that IndiGo flight 6E 1703 departed Kolkata airport at 10 PM and landed in Guangzhou with 176 passengers, becoming the inaugural India-China flight after the five-year hiatus.
Source: CNN / Al Jazeera / South China Morning Post / Skift
Frequently asked questions
When and why were direct flights between India and China suspended?
Direct flights between India and China were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 Galwan Valley border clash, which severely strained bilateral relations between the two countries.
Which was the first direct flight to resume between India and China after the five-year suspension?
IndiGo flight 6E 1703 was the inaugural flight, departing Kolkata airport at 10 PM on October 27, 2025 and landing in Guangzhou with 176 passengers on board.
Which Chinese airline resumed services to India following the October 2025 resumption of flights?
China Eastern Airlines was set to resume Shanghai–Delhi flights from November 9, 2025, while IndiGo also planned to launch a Delhi–Guangzhou service from November 10, 2025.
What was the strategic significance of resuming India-China direct flights in 2025?
The Indian government stated that the restoration of flights would facilitate people-to-people contact and aid the gradual normalisation of bilateral relations between the world's two most populous nations, signalling improved diplomatic ties after the Galwan Valley tensions.
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