India and China are to resume direct flights in October 2025

Key Development

• India and China have already signed an agreement to resume direct air services between specific cities towards the end of October 2025.
• This move is a crucial move towards normalization of the diplomatic and people-to-people interactions between the two countries.

Background & Context

• The COVID-19 pandemic interfered with direct flights and continues to do so with most perspectives, mainly because of the tensions at the borders since 2020.
• The restart is a wider, progressive process of recovering bilateral relationships and regaining connectivity in major areas of interaction such as trade, tourism and education.

Process and Implementation

• The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced the same after video-conferencing at the technical level between the civil aviation authorities of both nations.
• Since the early years of 2025, both sides have been striving to amend the Air Services Agreement establishing the bilateral flight connections.
• The restart will coincide with the commencement of the Winter Schedule of airlines in the late autumn of 2025.

Expected Impact and Details

• Although certain airlines and routes are still officially not announced, the step is likely to reconnect key hubs, such as Delhi, Mumbai, Beijing, and Shanghai.
• This will make traveling easier to businesses, students, families, and the tourists, and will deepen the relations between the two nations.