India and China resumed direct commercial flights from October 26, 2025, ending a five-year suspension that began during the COVID-19 pandemic and was prolonged by Galwan Valley border tensions. IndiGo (flight 6E 1703) became the first airline to operate the revived service, launching a daily non-stop Kolkata–Guangzhou route using Airbus A320neo aircraft. China Eastern Airlines resumed Shanghai–New Delhi services on November 9, 2025, and IndiGo launched Delhi–Guangzhou flights from November 10, 2025. Air India announced Delhi–Shanghai non-stop flights effective February 1, 2026. The resumption follows the Modi–Xi summit at Kazan (October 2024) that normalised border patrolling arrangements, signalling a broader diplomatic thaw between the two Asian giants.
India-China Resume Direct Flights After Five-Year Hiatus — IndiGo Launches Kolkata-Guangzhou Route
India and China resumed direct commercial flights from October 26, 2025, ending a five-year suspension that began during the COVID-19 pandemic and was prolonged by Galwan Valley border tensions. IndiGo (flight 6E 1703) became the first airline to operate the revived service, launching a daily non-stop Kolkata–Guangzhou route using Airbus A320neo aircraft. China Eastern Airlines resumed Shanghai–New Delhi services on November 9, 2025, and IndiGo launched Delhi–Guangzhou flights from November 10, 2025. Air India announced Delhi–Shanghai non-stop flights effective February 1, 2026. The resumption follows the Modi–Xi summit at Kazan (October 2024) that normalised border patrolling arrangements, signalling a broader diplomatic thaw between the two Asian giants.
Key facts
- India and China resumed direct commercial flights from October 26, 2025 after a five-year suspension.
- IndiGo launched the first daily non-stop Kolkata-Guangzhou route using Airbus A320neo aircraft.
- The suspension was caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and 2020 Galwan Valley border tensions.
- China Eastern Airlines to resume Shanghai-Delhi from November 9 and IndiGo adding Delhi-Guangzhou from November 10.
- Air India announced direct flights to Shanghai before year-end 2025.
- The resumption follows the Modi-Xi summit at Kazan (October 2024) signalling diplomatic normalisation.
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Which aircraft type did IndiGo use to operate its revived Kolkata-Guangzhou service?
IndiGo's official press release for the resumed Kolkata-Guangzhou service states that daily non-stop flights on the route would be operated on IndiGo's A320 aircraft. Flight 6E 1703 operates the Kolkata-Guangzhou sector.
Source: CNN / Bloomberg / NPR / IndiGo Press Release
Frequently asked questions
When were direct flights between India and China resumed after suspension?
Direct commercial flights between India and China were resumed on October 26, 2025, ending a five-year suspension that began during the COVID-19 pandemic and was further prolonged by the 2020 Galwan Valley border tensions.
Which airline operated the first resumed direct flight between India and China, and on which route?
IndiGo operated the first resumed direct flight (flight number 6E 1703) on the Kolkata–Guangzhou route using Airbus A320neo aircraft, launching a daily non-stop service.
What diplomatic event led to the resumption of India-China direct flights?
The resumption of direct flights followed the Modi-Xi summit held at Kazan in October 2024, which signalled a gradual diplomatic normalisation between India and China after years of strained relations.
Which other airlines announced resumption of India-China flights following IndiGo?
China Eastern Airlines was set to resume its Shanghai–Delhi service from November 9, 2025; IndiGo planned to add a Delhi–Guangzhou route from November 10, 2025; and Air India announced direct flights to Shanghai before the end of 2025.
Why were direct flights between India and China suspended for five years?
The direct flight services were initially suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and were subsequently prolonged due to heightened border tensions following the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020 between Indian and Chinese troops.
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