# India-China direct flights to resume after five-year halt

2026-09-27T01:46:46+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 2 independent outlets

China's Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport confirmed on Friday that direct flights between India and China will resume later this month, ending a halt of more than five years. The Japan Times reports that the airport said it will actively promote airlines to open routes such as Guangzhou-Delhi. There have been no direct flights since 2020, even though China is India's biggest bilateral trade partner. India's largest carrier IndiGo announced it will begin daily non-stop flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou on October 26, The Japan Times adds. The resumption follows Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China a month ago, the first in seven years, where he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed the two nations were development partners, not rivals, and discussed strengthening trade ties amid global tariff uncertainty.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

Coverage from The Japan Times frames the flight resumption as a cautious easing of bilateral tensions, emphasising the 2020 border clash and Modi's concerns about India's $99.2 billion trade deficit. This places the move within ongoing strategic friction rather than presenting it as a pure commercial decision. The report omits any Indian government comment, relying solely on Chinese airport statements and IndiGo's announcement. A balanced reading notes that resuming air links is a low-risk confidence-building step, but substantial issues like border stability and trade imbalance remain unresolved, with no direct flights from Chinese carriers yet announced.

## Coverage

- japantimes.co.jp (neutral report) <https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/10/04/india-china-flights-resume/>
  Leads with the airport confirmation, includes both Chinese and Indian details, but omits official Indian reaction
- theprint.in <https://theprint.in/economy/air-india-to-resume-direct-flights-between-delhi-tel-aviv-from-dec-1-israel-ministry-of-tourism/3055972/>

Tags: Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, India-China relations, IndiGo, Narendra Modi, trade deficit, Xi Jinping
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