After a four-year suspension, India and China are moving closer to restoring direct passenger flights – a change that could significantly reshape regional mobility and business travel. The expected announcement may come at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin later this month, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s planned visit.
If confirmed, this would not just reopen an air corridor but also mark a symbolic thaw between Asia’s two largest economies, whose ties have been strained by the pandemic and border tensions.
Why Flights Stopped
Direct flights between India and China were halted in early 2020, first as a precaution against COVID-19 and then as relations soured following deadly clashes in the Galwan Valley. Twenty Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops were killed, triggering a freeze in bilateral engagement.
India responded by banning dozens of Chinese apps, tightening investment flows, and suspending air services indefinitely.
Before the disruption, carriers such as Air India, IndiGo, Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern operated more than a dozen weekly flights connecting Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata with Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Kunming. These routes formed a busy corridor for business executives, traders, and supply chain managers alongside other travelers.
The Impact of the Freeze
The absence of direct connectivity has been felt sharply in the business community. Companies with operations, factories, or partners in China have faced higher costs and longer journeys.
Instead of quick nonstop flights, travelers have had to route through Bangkok, Singapore, or Hong Kong, often doubling journey times and raising expenses. For businesses recalibrating supply chains and investments in the post-pandemic world, this lack of predictable, cost-efficient air travel has been a major obstacle.
A Window of Opportunity
Earlier this year, India and China signaled intentions to resume services as part of a set of “people-centric” measures to stabilize ties. India also resumed issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals, another sign of thawing relations.
With Modi expected in Tianjin at the end of August, the SCO Summit could provide the stage for an announcement. Reports suggest that key routes such as Delhi–Beijing and Delhi–Shanghai will be prioritized, with commercial hubs like Guangzhou and Chengdu following.
Airlines are already preparing. IndiGo, which previously ran daily flights to Chengdu and Guangzhou, has said it is ready to restart operations as soon as governments agree on terms. Air India is also positioned to relaunch its Delhi–Shanghai service.
What This Means for Business Travel
For travel coordinators and corporate mobility managers, the potential resumption represents a turning point:
- Time and cost savings: Nonstop connections will drastically reduce both journey times and reliance on costly multi-leg itineraries.
- Improved predictability: Direct flights create greater certainty for scheduling meetings, site visits, and conferences.
- Restored connectivity for supply chains: Executives, technicians, and trade representatives will be able to move more efficiently between the two economies.
- Evolving travel policy needs: Companies should review travel programs to reintroduce India–China routes, factoring in demand surges and limited initial capacity.
Diplomatic and Strategic Overtones
Beyond logistics, the resumption is layered with geopolitics. India’s decision comes at a time of trade friction with the United States, suggesting a desire to diversify strategic and economic channels. For multinational firms, this could mean renewed opportunities to leverage China’s market while strengthening India–China business exchanges.
At the same time, the phased return of flights underscores continued caution. A full-scale restoration to pre-2020 levels is unlikely in the short term.
Key Takeaways for Travel Coordinators
- Direct flights are expected to resume soon, likely timed with Modi’s SCO Summit visit.
- Delhi–Beijing and Delhi–Shanghai routes will be the first to return, followed by Guangzhou and Chengdu.
- Business travel will benefit most, with shorter travel times, lower costs, and more reliable itineraries.
- Initial capacity will be limited, so coordinators should prepare for high demand and possible bottlenecks.
- Geopolitics remains a variable — organizations should monitor developments as India and China cautiously rebuild ties.