The Centre on Thursday (October 2, 2025) gave the green signal to resume direct flights between India and China after a gap of five years, with IndiGo’s flights from Kolkata to the trading hub of Guangzhou set for take-off from October 26.
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“It has now been agreed that direct air services connecting designated points in India and China can resume by late October 2025, in keeping with the winter season schedule,” a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs said, adding that the move will “further facilitate people-to-people contact between India and China, contributing towards the gradual normalisation of bilateral exchanges.”
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The statement was followed by IndiGo announcing daily flights between Guangzhou and Kolkata, adding that the trading city would be connected with New Delhi soon, “subject to regulatory approvals”. Tickets for flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou will open for sale from Friday (October 3). Industry sources said Air India too expects to start flights to Shanghai “before the end of the year”.
