Direct flights between India and China were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemicSubsequently, the tensions in relations between the two countries due to the Doklam and Galwan standoffs also impacted air connectivity.
Updated: September 12, 2026, 10:37 AM IST
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BRICS: Direct flights between India and China resume after six years; stage for PM Modi and Xi Jinping meet (Pic:X)
India-China Direct Flight: Direct flights between India and China have resumedChina Southern Airlines has resumed direct flight services between the two countries after nearly six yearsThis news of the resumption of direct flights comes just hours before Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to land in IndiaThe significance of this move by China Southern Airlines is easily understoodIt reflects the improving relations between India and ChinaXi Jinping, who is visiting India to attend the BRICS Summit 2026, is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 5:45 pm.
A number of issues are expected to be discussed during the bilateral meetingChina Southern Airlines announced on Saturday, September 12, 2026, that it will resume regular passenger flights on the Guangzhou-New Delhi route from September 21According to the Global Times, the service is being resumed after a gap of nearly six yearsThe airline stated that once service is resumed, it will operate more than 100 flights per week on eight round-trip routes in South AsiaThe resumption of direct flights by Chinese airlines to India is considered a significant step towards increasing connectivity between the two countriesEarlier in April, Air China resumed direct flights from Beijing to DelhiThis was the second direct service to India by a Chinese airlinePreviously, China Eastern Airlines resumed direct flights between Kunming and Kolkata on April 18th.
Direct flights between Kolkata and Shanghai
Indian airline IndiGo also launched daily non-stop flights between Kolkata and Shanghai on March 30, further strengthening India-China air connectivityIndiGo had previously resumed its Kolkata-Guangzhou flight service and later began operating to China from DelhiDirect flights between India and China were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemicSubsequently, the tensions in relations between the two countries due to the Doklam and Galwan standoffs also impacted air connectivityNow, with relations between the two countries improving somewhat, the resumption of direct flights is considered crucial to increasing people-to-people contact and economic activity.
Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping departed from Beijing for New Delhi on Saturday at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the 18th BRICS SummitAccording to Xinhua, Xi Jinping will also hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi on SaturdayHis delegation includes Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Director of the Central Office, and Wang Yi, Chinese Foreign Minister and Politburo member.
According to Xinhua, Xi is expected to prioritise proposals at the BRICS summit aimed at advancing cooperation among the Global SouthBRICS has become an important platform for economic and policy coordination among major emerging economiesIts agenda includes issues such as development, finance, technology, trade, and people-to-people contactsTherefore, Xi’s visit and the resumption of India-China flights are seen as a sign of broader efforts to enhance connectivity between the two countries.
