India and China Set to Resume Direct Flights from Late October After Five-Year Hiatus

India and China will resume direct flight services later this month, ending a five-year suspension caused by COVID-19 and eastern Ladakh border tensions. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated flights connecting designated points can restart by late October, pending airline and regulatory approvals. IndiGo will operate daily non-stop flights from Kolkata to Guangzhou starting October 26 and plans Delhi-Guangzhou routes soon. Resuming flights and visa normalization were discussed during high-level talks, including Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s January visit and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s August Delhi visit. Previously, limited connectivity via Southeast Asian hubs reduced passenger traffic and revenue for airlines.