On Thursday (October 2, 2025), the Ministry of External Affairs announced that India and China agreed to restore direct flights since October 26. Photo Credit: AFP
Green signal from the Center for Restoring Flights between India and China since October 26 after the gap of five years comes, although both sides “remain involved” in the revision of the Bilateral Air Force Agreement, according to the higher government official.
On Thursday (October 2, 2025), the Ministry of External Affairs announced that India and China agreed to renew direct flights since October 26, which coincides with the beginning of the winter schedule. Soon after, Indigo said that from October 26, the Kolkata – Guangzhou Day Services will be launched and day flights from Nový Delhi will be added to the Chinese business junction as soon as regulatory approval has been introduced. Five Chinese carriers turned to the General Directorate for Civil Aviation (DGCA) for passengers and expense flights.
“We are still dealing with air services agreements,” said the government official, asking if both parties agreed on a revised pact that covers the capacity of the seat and destination to the airlines of both countries. The official added that they did not want these discussions to further delay the recovery of flights. In a statement on Thursday, Mea said that both countries have been conducting an air service agreement since the beginning of this year, including an Air Service Agreement, as part of a government strategy for the “gradual normalization of relations” of the technical level.
In addition to Indiga, Air India plans to restore flights to Shanghai “Before the end of the year”. Government officials said Akasa also intends to fly to China. DGCA granted passengers to Chinese carriers China Eastern (Shanghai – Delhi; five weekly flights). Others who enrolled in the passenger category are Air China and Shandong. Two Chinese airlines – China Southern and Sichuan Airlines – also required permission for freight flights.
Indian carriers sought to “modernize” the whole agreement on the air services, said another source of industry without dealing with specifics.
The current bilateral agreement allows airlines to access each side access to six destinations and no more than 42 flights per week. Chinese carriers operated 42 direct flights every week, including Air China flying from Beijing to Bombai four times a week and five times to Delhi. China Southern Airlines operated the service to Guangzhou from Delhi twice a day. China Eastern Airlines operated eight flights a week, including a daily flight in Delhi-Shanghai. Shandong Airlines flew four times a week to Delhi from Kunming.
Rwandair of Rwanda also had the right to offer flights between Guangzha and Mumbai three times a week. Among Indian carriers, Air India, which has not yet been privatized, flew to Shanghai five times a week from Nový Delhi, while Indigo operated everyday flights between Chengdu-Delhi and Guangzhou-Kokata.
Published – 3 October 2025 21:30
