KOLKATA- IndiGo Airlines (6E) is bringing back direct flights between India and China after more than five years. The airline will start daily non-stop services between Kolkata and Guangzhou from October 26, 2025. This depends on final regulatory approvals coming through.
Direct India-China flights have been suspended since 2020. Now that the flights are resuming marks a significant shift in aviation connectivity between the two countries. It also signals improving diplomatic relations after years of tension.
Photo- Aeroprints.com; Wikimedia CommonsWhy Flights Stopped and What Changed?
The story here goes back to early 2020. Direct flights to China were first suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. That made sense at the time. But unlike other international routes that came back gradually, India-China flights stayed grounded.
The real reason was the worsening geopolitical tensions between India and China. Relations between the two countries deteriorated significantly. Aviation connectivity became a casualty of that tension.
For the past five years, anyone traveling between India and China had to connect through other cities. Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Hong Kong – these became the usual transit points. It added hours to journey times. It also made travel much more expensive.
Things are finally changing now. Indian and Chinese aviation authorities have been working behind the scenes. Technical teams spent months sorting out route designations and regulatory frameworks. The October date aligns with the winter schedule rollout.
Photo: Clément AlloingIndiGo Resuming China Flights
IndiGo will use its Airbus A320neo aircraft for the resumption of the Kolkata-Guangzhou route. The airline will offer a Daily flight, making operations and connectivity consistent for passengers. Guangzhou is a major commercial hub in southern China. It’s the capital of Guangdong province and handles massive passenger volumes.
Bookings for the new flights are expected to start very soon. Kolkata, as the first reconnection point, makes sense. Eastern India has historical trade ties with East Asia.
The business community there has been keen on expanding commercial links with China. The city also works as a connecting hub for northeastern India. IndiGo also operated on this route before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Delhi-Guangzhou flights are also planned. These need additional approvals before they can start. Delhi would obviously see strong demand given it’s the capital. Ticket sales should open soon for the Kolkata route.
Photo: Bengaluru AirportDirect Flights will Boost Trade
India and China still do substantial trade despite political issues. China remains one of India’s largest trading partners. Electronics, pharmaceuticals, machinery, raw materials – the trade flows both ways.
Indian exporters and importers will benefit immediately. Business delegations can travel more easily. Manufacturing representatives who need to visit Chinese factories won’t have to waste time on connections. Chinese businesses expanding into India get better access to.
Airlines that built business on India-China transit traffic might feel the pinch. Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, and Middle Eastern carriers have been the main beneficiaries of the five-year gap. Some of that traffic will now shift to direct flights.
Photo: By Tomás Del Coro from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA – B-7881 China Eastern Airlines Boeing 777-39P(ER) s/n 43285, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62340173More Flights Soon?
IndiGo is planning another flight to Guangzhou from Delhi besides Kolkata. However, IndiGo won’t have this space to itself for long. Air India is also planning flights to China from Delhi. There might be more flights being planned from other Indian cities as well.
Chinese airlines will also want their share of the market. Air China, China Southern, and China Eastern all operated multiple India routes before 2020. They have experience, established ground operations, and strong backing.
When Chinese carriers return, the competitive dynamics will shift. IndiGo will need to maintain its edge through reliability and service quality.
IndiGo has to get the economics right too. Load factors and pricing need careful management. The initial months will be crucial as the market adjusts. Prices need to attract passengers away from connecting flights while remaining profitable.
Photo: Siddh Dhuri | MumbaiPlanesBottom Line
The approach is deliberately cautious. Instead of immediately restoring all pre-2020 routes, both sides are testing the waters. Limited routes and frequencies allow them to gauge public response. It also helps assess operational feasibility. If these work well, more could follow.
If the Kolkata and Delhi routes succeed, expansion becomes likely. Mumbai makes obvious sense given its business importance. Bengaluru’s IT industry has strong China connections and serves as an important hub with Chinese investment interest.
On the Chinese side, Shanghai and Beijing are natural candidates. These cities have the business and tourism traffic to support daily flights. Shenzhen, given its tech industry prominence, could also work well with Bengaluru.
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