Direct flights: India sends official team to China on air connectivity
Both sides had already agreed “in principle” to resume direct services
India has sent a high-level team of officials to China to smoothen out the last remaining hurdles to direct flight connectivity between the two countries, industry sources told businessline.
The trip comes days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to China, where the official announcement on resumption of flights is expected to coincide with his participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.
Businessline was the first to report that flight services between India and China are likely to resume by early October or shortly thereafter.
The restart holds significance as it marks the revival of a key international route that has been suspended for nearly five years.
Besides, both sides had already agreed “in principle” to resume direct services, signalling a cautious thaw in bilateral ties.
Accordingly, India’s embassy in Beijing has also resumed issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens after a gap of five years.
Air services deal
Speaking to businessline, industry sources said, an arrangement is being put in place to avoid waiting for a revised air services agreement.
According to sources, airport slots will be allocated to airlines under the arrangement, with “services capped at pre-2019 levels”.
Currently, there is no direct air connectivity between India and China, with flights suspended since early 2020 following the Covid-19 outbreak.
The situation worsened after military clashes in the Galwan Valley of Ladakh, and Indian carriers now only operate services to Hong Kong.
Nonetheless, with tensions showing signs of easing, Chinese authorities have been holding discussions with India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation to streamline procedures such as slot allocations, ground handling contracts and airfare regulations.
Trade boost
Industry insiders told businessline that reopening the China route represents a significant opportunity to boost trade, tourism and business travel.
They noted that services to China historically recorded strong load factors, often reaching up to 90 per cent. The resumption of flights, they said, would also help plug revenue leaks to competing carriers and retain earnings within both countries.
Furthermore, they pointed out that demand for travel remains strong and could rebound quickly once direct services resume.
As per estimates, passenger traffic between India and China currently totals around one million with a one-stopover, but direct flights could potentially push that figure to three million, with a mix of tourists and business travellers.
Published on August 25, 2025
