India, China set to resume direct flights ‘as soon as next month’: Report

INDIA and China are set to resume direct flights as soon as next month, Bloomberg reported citing officials in the know. The move comes days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China on 28 August for the SCO Summit in Tianjin.

Why is India-China direct flight resumption significant?

Direct commercial flights between the two Asian nations have been suspended since early 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, travellers have had to transit through regional hubs such as Hong Kong, Singapore or Bangkok, significantly increasing travel time and costs.

According to the Bloomberg report citing officials, India’s civil aviation authorities have instructed domestic carriers, such as Air India and IndiGo, to prepare flights to China at short notice.

An official announcement could be made during or shortly after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin later this month, the report added.

PM Modi's China Visit for SCO Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to travel to Tianjin, China, on 28 August to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, marking his first visit to the country in several years.

The SCO, a regional bloc focused on security, trade and political cooperation, includes major powers such as China, Russia and Central Asian states.

PM Modi’s trip is expected to feature bilateral meetings on the sidelines, with speculation that he could hold direct talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping amid efforts to stabilise ties after years of strained relations following the 2020 border clashes in Ladakh.

What’s the diplomatic context of India-China ties?

The move to resume direct flights between India and China comes amid tentative signs of a thaw in bilateral relations between Delhi and Beijing. Ties hit a low point in June 2020 after deadly border clashes in Ladakh's Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which killed 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number of Chinese troops.

Earlier in 2025, India began issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals after years of curbs. The timing also coincides with a period of strain in India’s relationship with the United States, which recently doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent in retaliation for its purchase of Russian oil.

Which airlines could return first for India-China direct flight?

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Air India and IndiGo operated direct flights to Chinese cities, while Air China, China Southern and China Eastern connected Chinese hubs with Indian metros.
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Industry officials told Bloomberg that Air India and IndiGo are to be among the first to resume operations once the green light is given.

Will India-China direct flight resumption plan face delays?

According to the media report, officials warn that the timeline is still fluid, and negotiations could face setbacks. Earlier agreements to restart flights in January and June this year stalled due to renewed tensions.

However, talks between Delhi and Beijing have reportedly accelerated in the past fortnight, with Indian airlines briefed on the proposal, and preliminary route planning is already underway.