India and China severed air connectivity links in 2020 due to geopolitical tensions between the two countries. Now, after many attempts to get this restarted, there might be light at the end of the tunnel.
India-China air links might be restored soon.
India and China are poised to restore direct air links as soon as next month—an aviation milestone signalling a subtle thaw in relations after years of interrupted connectivity. This move is carefully timed to coincide with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin later this month, setting the stage for a potential announcement to restore flights between the world’s two most populous nations. Bloomberg was the first to report on this development.
For airlines, especially Indian carriers like Air India and IndiGo, this means gearing up for rapid deployment: obtaining necessary clearances, finalising route planning, and aligning crews and aircraft—essentially preparing for a ramp-up with little notice. After more than five years of halted services—stemming from pandemic-related restrictions and diplomatic fallout from the 2020 border clashes—the logistical task of resuming operations is no small feat. For years, people have had to take one-stop trips via Southeast Asia to fly into China from India, using Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, or Malaysia Airlines.
From a broader aviation market perspective, this reconnection is more than a symbolic bridge; it reignites a potentially lucrative flow of passengers and cargo between the two nations. Before the suspension, dozens of flights per week linked major cities, facilitating not just tourism but also business and cultural exchange. Indian carriers, including Air India and IndiGo, as well as Chinese airlines such as Air China, China Southern, and China Eastern, operated services between the key cities of the two countries. The Chinese options were usually excellent, with affordable flights to the US as well.
Yet, beneath the lifted fog lies a complex runway. While external factors, such as geopolitical normalisation and strategic messaging, create favourable tailwinds, carriers still face uncertainties, ranging from obtaining bilateral traffic rights to navigating regulatory approvals and gauging passenger demand in a market recalibrated by years of isolation.
Bottomline
It is expected that in September 2025, India and China will resume direct flights between the two countries. The expectation is on the thaw in the political relationship between India and China, and the upcoming visit of the Indian Prime Minister to China for a summit.
Who do you think will be first off the mark to resume flights? Air India or IndiGo?
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