Revival of India–China air links as IndiGo restores Guangzhou service
October 6, 2025
Direct air links between India and mainland China are to return for the first time in five years, with IndiGo preparing to relaunch regular passenger services between the two countries later this month.
The low-cost carrier announced that it plans to resume daily non-stop flights from both Delhi and Kolkata to Guangzhou, with the latter starting on 26 October 2025.
Restoring connectivity between India and China
The flight will mark the restoration of an air link between Asia’s two largest emerging economies, with no scheduled flights linking the countries since 2020, after violent clashes along their disputed Himalayan frontier
The revival of these routes comes amid renewed diplomatic and commercial engagement between New Delhi and Beijing.
The carrier has said it is looking at launching additional flights to China in the future.
IndiGo’s decision will create a double-daily operation linking India’s political and cultural centres to southern China’s key industrial hub.
Flights will be operated using Airbus A320neo aircraft.
Resuming links to Guangzhou
IndiGo said the service would “re-establish avenues for cross-border trade and strategic business partnerships and promote tourism between the two nations.”
The airline added that the restored connections are expected to support wider efforts to normalise relations and expand economic cooperation.
IndiGo previously operated services to Guangzhou before the pandemic and retains many of the operational frameworks and partnerships needed for a swift restart.
IndiGo commenced operations to Guangzhou from Kolkata on October 20 2019, its second destination in China after the launch of Chengdu that same year, from Delhi.
Its experience in the Chinese market is expected to facilitate a smooth transition as operations resume.
The move forms part of IndiGo’s broader global expansion strategy, which has seen the carrier extend its network to destinations across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
Possibility of more flights to China
Pieter Elbers, chief executive officer of IndiGo, said: “We are delighted to announce the resumption of daily, non-stop flights between India and mainland China.
“We are proud to be amongst the first to resume direct connectivity to China from two points in India.
“This will once again allow seamless movement of people, goods, and ideas, while also strengthening bilateral ties between the two of the world’s most populous countries and fast-growing economies.
“With this very important step, we are looking at introducing more direct flights into China. As we take steady strides towards becoming a global aviation player, this is a significant move to strengthen our international network.”
Chinese airlines look to India
Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and Shandong Airlines have all expressed interest in resuming flights to India.
Air China is looking at flights from Beijing, China Eastern from Shanghai, China Southern from Guangzhou, and Shandong Airlines from Kunming.
In addition, China Eastern has reportedly signalled plans to relaunch its Kunming–Kolkata connection.
Foreign operators must secure authorisation from India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation before launching services.
The process requires carriers to provide corporate, operational and fleet details, as well as having their security programmes cleared by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security.
During a recent meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping confirmed plans to restart direct flights.
Before the suspension of services in 2020, direct connectivity was extensive.
Chinese airlines together offered 42 flights a week to India, with Air China serving both Delhi and Mumbai from Beijing, China Southern running double-daily flights from Delhi to Guangzhou, and China Eastern operating a daily link between Delhi and Shanghai. Shandong Airlines also offered four weekly flights from Kunming.
On the Indian side, Air India flew five times weekly to Shanghai from Delhi, while IndiGo maintained daily services to Chengdu and Guangzhou.
