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Breaking Barriers: India and China reopen skies

By Debanjali Rakshit

Asia’s skies are buzzing again. After five years of diplomatic cooling and detours, India and China are bringing travel back to the region in October 2025, with direct flights beginning again, with repercussions far beyond Asia. IndiGo will launch its first nonstop flights from Kolkata to Guangzhou on October 26, and will follow that up with daily flights from Delhi to Guangzhou beginning on November 10. This winds back long-lost connectivity between the two largest economies in Asia.

Since early 2020, India and China have not had direct commercial flights, primarily due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, the suspension of direct flights expanded to longer periods due to diplomatic issues, primarily related to the Galwan Valley clash in 2020, which intensified border tensions and suspended agreements related to aviation between the two countries, The passengers didn’t have a choice for five years but to connect through Singapore, Hong Kong, or Bangkok, which ultimately increased the time and price of travel.

“This move demonstrates the sincere efforts made by both sides to resume people-to-people exchanges and normalize bilateral ties,” said Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Echoing this, India’s Ministry of External Affairs emphasized, “Direct air services connecting designated points in India and China can resume by late October 2025, subject to commercial and regulatory approvals”. PM Narendra Modi, during his recent visit to China, reiterated that “India and China are partners in development, not competitors.”

For travelers, the removal of long layovers will lead to a substantial decrease in flight times and travel costs. Business travelers will enjoy far easier access, facilitating greater trade and investment flows between two of the world’s largest and most rapidly growing economies. Bilateral trade between India and China was already high, at more than US$150 billion per year, and the improvement will undoubtedly bolster connectivity and trade between India and China.

There will be substantial benefits to the tourism and education sectors. More students will find it easier to learn across the border, while tourists will be encouraged by the increased cultural exchanges by the restoration of direct routes. IndiGo, with its Airbus A320 neo fleet in particular, are launching multiple routes, including Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern, that will expand access beyond Kolkata and Delhi.

Despite the positive outlook, the reopening depends on cooperative regulatory cooperation, airline preparedness, and stable geopolitical relations. Analysts warn that border flare-ups or bureaucratic hurdles may affect flights or cause airlines to downsize capacity. However, this return to air travel links is one of the clearest indicators of India and China’s desire to reset their relationship based on a practical and cooperative stance.

As Asia prepares for this important revival of aviation, passengers, businesses, and diplomats are paying attention. The reopening of the skies between India and China signals a symbol of hope for renewed dialogue, commerce, and connectivity within the region. Grab your passport. Charge your phone. Book the ticket. The Asian skies are calling, and this time, the journey matters more than ever.

Restoring air routes is not just about travel, it’s about rebuilding the bridges of collaboration.”