India and China have announced plans to restore direct flights between select cities later this month, ending a five-year suspension that began during the COVID-19 pandemic and extended through years of tense border disputes.
The announcement, made on October 2, 2025, by India’s embassy in Beijing via WeChat, comes as both nations move to normalise relations in the face of shifting global trade dynamics and mounting U.S. tariffs under President Donald Trump.
India’s largest carrier, IndiGo, confirmed it will relaunch its Kolkata–Guangzhou route starting October 26, with other carriers expected to follow. The move aligns with the Indian government’s strategy of “gradual normalisation of relations” with China.
The resumption follows Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s September visit to China—his first in seven years—where he met with President Xi Jinping during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. Both leaders agreed to frame India and China as “development partners, not rivals,” and pledged closer economic ties amid rising global trade uncertainty.
The push for cooperation comes against a backdrop of escalating U.S. trade pressure. President Trump recently raised tariffs on Indian imports to 50% and urged Europe to impose 100% tariffs on both India and China, citing their continued purchases of Russian oil. Washington has warned of even steeper tariffs if European allies join in.
Relations between India and China soured sharply in 2020 after deadly clashes along the disputed Himalayan border, which left 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers dead. The violence froze diplomatic engagements and kept direct flights grounded even after COVID restrictions eased.
The restoration of flights marks a significant step toward easing tensions and signals a pragmatic shift by both countries to prioritise economic stability over rivalry, particularly as global trade headwinds intensify.
