India and China will restart direct flights this month, ending a five-year suspension that began with the Covid-19 pandemic and deepened amid worsening border tensions.
Bookings opened on Friday, with the first flights set to take off on October 26, marking a major step in thawing relations between Asia’s two most populous nations.
Direct services were halted in 2020 when the pandemic struck, and remained suspended as a deadly clash between Indian and Chinese troops along their disputed Himalayan border soured ties. At least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese troops were killed, the worst violence between the two sides in decades.
Diplomatic efforts have since gained momentum. Last month, Indian and Chinese leaders met for the first time in seven years, paving the way for renewed dialogue on trade, border issues, and cultural exchange.
Following technical consultations, both countries announced that flights would resume by late October. India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation described the move as a key step toward “normalising bilateral exchanges” and strengthening people-to-people ties.
IndiGo, India’s largest carrier, confirmed that it will launch daily direct flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou on October 26, with plans to expand to New Delhi in the coming months.
In a statement, the airline said the routes would “re-establish avenues for cross-border trade, business partnerships, and tourism,” underscoring the broader economic and cultural benefits of renewed connectivity.
The reopening of air links comes after Beijing also allowed Indian pilgrims to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra — a trek to Mount Kailash in Tibet, sacred to Hindus and Buddhists — for the first time since the 2020 clashes.
With flights resuming and diplomatic channels reopening, both nations appear to be signalling a cautious yet deliberate step toward rebuilding fractured ties.
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