India and China have resumed direct passenger flights after a five-year suspension, marking a significant step toward rebuilding relations between the two Asian giants whose ties had been strained by border tensions and geopolitical rivalries.
The restoration of air connectivity, which began on Sunday, comes as both nations cautiously move toward normalising exchanges following years of diplomatic friction. India’s government described the move as a boost to “people-to-people contact” and a sign of the “gradual normalisation of bilateral exchanges.”
The first direct flight was operated by IndiGo, India’s largest commercial carrier, departing Kolkata at 10:00 pm (1630 GMT) for Guangzhou. Additional services from New Delhi to Shanghai and Guangzhou are scheduled to commence in November.
Direct flights between India and China were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, halting nearly 500 monthly services. Relations further deteriorated after a deadly border clash in 2020 that left at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers dead.
Since then, both sides have taken gradual steps to ease tensions. Soldiers from the two countries recently exchanged gifts on the Hindu festival of Diwali, a gesture that officials described as symbolic of improving ties.
“The direct air link will reduce logistics and transit time,” said Rajeev Singh, head of the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata, adding that it would benefit businesses and trade.
Kolkata, India’s eastern port city, has long-standing ties with China dating back to the colonial era, when Chinese traders settled there and influenced local cuisine, giving rise to the city’s famed Indo-Chinese food culture.
Residents in the city’s Chinatown district welcomed the resumption of flights. “It’s great news for people like us who have relatives in China,” said Chen Khoi Kui, a civil society leader in Tangra, Kolkata’s historic Chinese neighbourhood. “Air connectivity will boost trade, tourism, and business travel.”
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The revival of flights comes amid shifting geopolitical alignments. While India continues to balance its strategic rivalry with Beijing, relations between New Delhi and Washington have faced strains following U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose 50 percent tariffs on Indian exports.
Trump’s aides have also accused India of indirectly supporting Russia’s war effort in Ukraine by purchasing discounted oil from Moscow — an allegation New Delhi has rejected.
Trade between India and China has shown renewed momentum. India’s imports from China rose to over $11 billion in September 2025, a 16 percent increase compared with the same period last year, according to official data. Exports from India to China reached $1.47 billion, up 34 percent year-on-year but still modest by comparison.
The gradual thaw follows high-level meetings between Indian and Chinese leaders in Russia last year and China in August. Analysts say the resumption of flights signals cautious optimism, though deep mistrust remains.
“Managing an increasingly assertive China remains India’s long-term challenge,” The Indian Express observed in an editorial following the Modi–Xi meeting, noting that while improving ties with Beijing “sends an appropriate signal” to Washington, “fundamental realities remain unchanged.”