India and China are preparing to resume direct passenger flights as early as next month, ending a suspension that has lasted for more than five years.
The move, first reported by Bloomberg, is being seen as a significant step towards improving ties between the two Asian powers after years of strained relations.
According to the report, the Indian government has instructed airlines including Air India and IndiGo to be ready to operate services to China at short notice. A formal announcement is expected during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, scheduled for late August.
The suspension of flights between the two countries dates back to the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic and was prolonged amid diplomatic tensions, particularly after border clashes in 2020. Since then, travel between India and China has been limited to indirect routes, often involving stopovers in third countries.
Diplomatic momentum
Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is currently in Beijing for high-level talks with China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi. Both sides have pledged to promote people-to-people exchanges, including initiatives to strengthen cooperation between media organisations and think tanks.
The discussions follow a visit by India’s foreign minister to Beijing earlier this year. Analysts say the resumption of flights could serve as a symbolic reset, providing a practical boost to tourism, education, and business links.
Strategic backdrop
The latest diplomatic push comes against a complex geopolitical backdrop. Rising US tariffs and sanctions—particularly those linked to Russian oil—have been criticised by India as unjust, with New Delhi pledging to defend its national interests.
For Beijing, reconnecting with India fits into a broader strategy of stabilising regional ties amid economic headwinds and shifting global alliances. The restoration of direct air links is likely to be welcomed by students, business travellers, and families on both sides who have faced years of travel disruptions.
Potential impact
Before the suspension, direct flights between major Indian cities and Chinese hubs such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou carried hundreds of thousands of passengers annually. Industry experts believe the restored routes could quickly see strong demand, particularly from Indian students returning to Chinese universities and from businesses keen to rebuild in-person connections.
However, aviation analysts caution that the pace of the recovery will depend on competitive pricing, available capacity, and the broader state of bilateral relations.
If confirmed at the SCO summit, the resumption of flights would mark one of the most tangible signs of easing tensions between the world’s two most populous nations in recent years—providing both symbolic and practical benefits as they navigate a shifting global order.
