After more than five years of suspended service, India and China are poised to resume direct flights – a move signaling both aviation renewal and diplomatic thaw. The schedule resumption is expected around September 2025, following formal agreements reached during high-level meetings aimed at strengthening bilateral connections.
Preparing for Air Corridor Revival
For decades, the Indi-China air corridor was a vibrant artery for business, tourism, and cultural exchange. Indian carriers such as Air India, which at the time was government-run, and IndiGo operated multiple weekly flights to cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Guangzhou. On the Chinese side, airlines such as Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, and Shandong Airlines had robust schedules.
However, an abrupt suspension in early 2020 – first due to the pandemic, followed by border tensions – put a halt to these routes. Since then, passengers seeking to traverse the region have relied on indirect paths through hubs in Hong Kong, Bangkok, or Singapore, complicating and lengthening travel.
Diplomatic signals began shifting earlier this year, culminating in agreements to resume civil aviation ties. Key stakeholders, including India’s Foreign Secretary and Chinese officials, formalized commitments to update the bilateral air services agreement.
As both countries prepared for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, momentum built to finalize operational details – including slot allotments and airline readiness. Once live, this corridor is expected to restore seamless connectivity and unlock new regional mobility.
Airline Competition and Strategic Implications
Industry players are already gearing up. Air India, now operating under the Tata Group banner, stands ready to relaunch legacy routes like Delhi-Shanghai. Meanwhile, IndiGo – having doubled its fleet post-pandemic – is preparing long-haul operations from hubs such as Delhi and Kolkata. Chinese airlines are equally enthusiastic, positioned to capitalize on pent-up demand both inbound and outbound.
The renewed competition stands to benefit travelers through improved frequency, pricing, and flexibility. For instance, passengers may choose between larger widebody operators or the efficient narrowbody models now prevalent in IndiGo’s fleet. With demand expected to surge across business and leisure segments, this corridor revival promises to reshape long-haul travel options across Asia.
In keeping an eye on this emerging opportunity, we’ve previously explored the broader landscape of India-China air link restoration, highlighting how returning flights could reshape travel planning and logistics around the region. It’s also worth remembering the broader strategic backdrop – not just the resumption of flights, but how this move fits into wider normalization efforts across trade, tourism, and diplomacy.
More than a restored route network, this resumption represents the rekindling of people-to-people ties, refreshed economic engagement, and a renewed commitment to aviation as a bridge between two of Asia’s largest nations.
