After five years of diplomatic frost, India and China have officially resumed direct commercial flights, signaling a major step toward rebuilding ties between the two Asian giants.
On Monday, IndiGo flight 6E 1703 from Kolkata touched down in Guangzhou, China, carrying 180 passengers.
The flight became the first direct air connection between both nations since early 2020, before COVID-19 and border tensions halted travel.
Flights between the two countries were suspended after the COVID-19 outbreak and a deadly border clash in the Himalayas worsened relations.
But in recent months, both sides have taken steps to restore trust and normalize engagement.
In a statement earlier this month, India’s government described the move as a way to “facilitate people-to-people contact” and revive bilateral exchanges.
The resumption follows a landmark border coordination agreement reached in 2024 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China in August his first in seven years.
During the trip, Modi met President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
In July, India also reinstated visa issuance for Chinese tourists, another sign of renewed cooperation.
Before the pandemic, both nations operated over 2,600 flights annually, according to travel data firm OAG.
The restored routes are expected to boost business travel and tourism, key sectors hit hard by years of tension.
Following IndiGo’s milestone flight, China Eastern Airlines announced plans to launch a Shanghai–Delhi route starting November 9, with three flights each week.
At Kolkata Airport, IndiGo staff marked the occasion by lighting traditional oil lamps before departure.
Qin Yong, a senior Chinese consular official, called it “a very important day for India-China relations.”
Passengers also expressed excitement and relief. Business traveler Krishna Goyal said, “Earlier, we had to take two or three connecting flights to reach China.
This direct route will save time and strengthen trade ties.”
The return of direct flights is part of a larger thaw in relations between New Delhi and Beijing.
After years of border disputes and trade restrictions, both countries now appear focused on economic revival and diplomatic stability.
Analysts say reopening flight routes reflects a pragmatic shift prioritizing cooperation over confrontation.
However, they warn that border tensions remain a potential flashpoint that could derail progress.
For now, the skies between India and China are open again a hopeful sign that both sides are ready to move from conflict to cooperation.