India-China flights to resume after five years from Oct 2025
BILATERAL – INDIA-ASIA
3 OCTOBER 2025
- The Centre gave the green signal to resume direct flights between India and China after a gap of five years with IndiGo’s flights from Kolkata to the trading hub of Guangzhou set for take-off from October 26, 2025.
- Direct flights between India and China have been suspended since March 2020, when India halted all international travel amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
- While restrictions eased gradually for many countries, flights to China remained suspended due to heightened tensions along the Line of Actual Control.
- In July 2025, the Indian government had announced resumption of tourist visas to Chinese nationals.
- The disruption had especially impacted small traders.
- For over five years, travellers needing to move between India and China relied on connecting flights via third-country hubs.
