India-China Direct Flights To Return After 5 Years, IndiGo To Start Flight Operations From October 26; Details Inside

After a gap of five years, India and China are all set to resume direct flights between selected cities. The Ministry of External Affairs announced this on Thursday. The move aims to normalise bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries. IndiGo would be one of the first airlines to introduce these flights from October 26. Here are all the details you should know. 

IndiGo Announces Return To China With Daily Non-Stop Flights From India 

We’re delighted to announce the resumption of our flights to China, with direct flights to Guangzhou from Kolkata starting 26th October, 2025 further strengthening our commitment to making air travel more accessible for our customers. We are thankful to the Ministry of Civil…

— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) October 2, 2025

Following recent diplomatic initiatives, IndiGo announced the resumption of its services to China. The daily non-stop flights will start from October 26, connecting Kolkata to Guangzhou. As per a report by The Economic Times, after regulatory approvals, IndiGo will also introduce direct flights between Delhi and Guangzhou.

The airline took to X to make an official announcement yesterday. They wrote, “We’re delighted to announce the resumption of our flights to China, with direct flights to Guangzhou from Kolkata starting 26th October, 2025, further strengthening our commitment to making air travel more accessible for our customers. We are thankful to the Ministry of Civil Aviation for their continued guidance and support.”

This decision comes after five years of tensions following the Galwan clashes. According to India Today, Air India is also likely to resume its services to China by the end of the year. Flights were suspended in the aftermath of the Doklam crisis and further delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also Read: Air India Express & IndiGo To Connect Bengaluru Directly To These 3 Key Rajasthan Destinations

Ticket And Aircraft Details

Reportedly, bookings will open on October 3. Customers will be able to book flights via IndiGo’s official website or mobile app. The airline will operate these flights with Airbus A320neo aircraft. This move will not only make travel easier for passengers flying to China but also reopen avenues for cross-border trade and business partnerships. IndiGo will be among the first airlines to restart direct connectivity from India. More direct routes are expected later.

The announcement from IndiGo followed the External Affairs Ministry’s update. PM Narendra Modi also visited China a month ago for the first time in seven years. PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed that India and China are development partners and not rivals. They discussed ways to strengthen trade ties, and the resumption of flights could be part of this effort.

Also Read: IndiGo Expands Domestic Network With New Winter Routes To Jaipur, Jaisalmer & More Tier-2 & Tier-3 Cities

We think this is a good step. Travellers will now find it easier to book flights to China, a country known for its rich culture, heritage, diverse food scene, and 60 UNESCO World Heritage sites! What are your thoughts on this latest development? Do let us know! 

Cover Image Courtesy: IndiGo, Wikipedia/ BriYYZ