India and China Resume Direct Flights After Five-Year Gap
IndiGo's Kolkata-Guangzhou route marks historic return of nonstop air travel between Asia's two giants as relations gradually improve.
After a gap of five years, passengers on the first direct commercial flight between India and China landed in Guangzhou on Monday morning, marking a significant step in rebuilding ties between the two Asian neighbors.
IndiGo flight 6E1703 departed from Kolkata and touched down in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou just before 4 am local time. This flight officially restored nonstop air connections that were stopped in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and rising tensions between the two countries.
A Welcome Return for Travelers
Passengers on board the inaugural flight expressed relief and excitement about the restored direct connection. Many Indian business travelers see this as an opportunity to explore trade and commerce opportunities across the border.
“It was such a smooth and easy, lovable trip,” said Rashika Mintri, a 44-year-old interior designer from Kolkata. “I could come again and again.”
Captain Abhijit Mukherjee, who flew the historic route, explained that without direct flights, passengers had to travel through other cities like Bangkok or Singapore, adding significant time and cost to their journeys. “It adds up,” the 55-year-old pilot said, holding a bouquet of flowers he received upon arrival.
Strengthening People-to-People Ties
The Indian government welcomed the move, saying the resumption of flights will increase people-to-people contact and support the gradual improvement of relations between the two nations.
Kolkata, India’s eastern port city, has centuries-old connections with China dating back to British colonial times when Chinese migrants arrived as traders. The city’s famous Indo-Chinese fusion cuisine remains a testament to this historical bond.
“It’s great news for people like us, who have relatives in China,” said Chen Khoi Kui, a community leader in Kolkata’s Chinatown district of Tangra. “Air connectivity will boost trade, tourism and business travel.”
More Routes Coming Soon
Regular flights already operate between India and Hong Kong. Additional direct services from New Delhi to Shanghai and Guangzhou are scheduled to begin in November, further expanding air connectivity between the two countries.
Before the suspension, approximately 500 monthly flights operated between India and China.
A Step Toward Better Relations
India and China, the world’s two most populous nations, remain strategic competitors in the region. However, their relationship has been improving slowly since a deadly border clash in the Himalayas in 2020, which claimed the lives of at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers.
Following that incident, India tightened rules on Chinese investments and banned hundreds of Chinese apps, including TikTok. India also strengthened its partnership with the United States, Japan, and Australia through the Quad alliance.
Recent diplomatic meetings between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Russia last year and in China in August have helped ease tensions.
Passenger Athar Ali, a 33-year-old businessman waiting to board the return flight to Kolkata, called the resumption of direct flights a “first step” in repairing relations between the two countries.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the check-in counter in Guangzhou, where a long queue formed for the first direct flight from mainland China to India in five years.
Challenges Remain
Despite these positive developments, both countries still face challenges. They maintain military troops along their disputed 3,500-kilometer border in the Himalayas.
However, small gestures of goodwill continue. Earlier this month, soldiers from both sides exchanged gifts of sweets during the Hindu festival of Diwali. Yu Jing, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in India, described it as “a gesture of goodwill.”
The warming of ties with China comes at a time when India’s relationship with the United States faces strain, particularly after US President Donald Trump imposed heavy 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods and criticized India for purchasing oil from Russia.
While improved relations send an important message, observers note that managing China’s growing influence in the region remains a long-term challenge for India.
India currently imports more from China than it exports, relying heavily on Chinese raw materials for its industries and export sector.
