India and China to Restart Direct Flights After Five-Year Pause

New Delhi, India, June 13, 2025 – India and China have agreed to resume direct passenger flights, ending a five-year halt sparked by the 2020 Galwan clash. The move, set to boost trade and travel, signals a thaw in tense relations. Here’s what you need to know about this major step.

A New Flight Path Forward

The agreement is clear:

• Direct flights will connect major cities, including Delhi to Beijing and Mumbai to Shanghai, with airlines like Air India and IndiGo in talks.
• Technical discussions on flight slots and frequencies began in early 2025, aiming for a May launch.
• Initial routes may include pilgrimage flights to Lhasa for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a sacred Hindu journey.

The skies are reopening.

Why This Matters

The impact is big:

• Bilateral trade, worth $136 billion last year, faced delays due to costly stopovers in Singapore or Dubai.
• Thousands of Indian professionals, stuck since 2020, can now plan direct business trips to China.
• After 18 rounds of military talks, the deal shows both nations easing border tensions.

The flights carry hope for better ties.

How the Flights Will Work

Details are shaping up:

• Up to 10 flights a week will start, far below the 42 weekly flights before 2020, with plans to grow.
• A Delhi-Beijing flight will take about five hours, saving time compared to 6.5-hour connecting routes.
• Airlines expect strong demand, with seats likely 80% full at launch.

Travelers are ready to board.

Visa and Travel Rules

Access has limits:

• Business visas will get faster processing to support trade, but tourist visas remain restricted to group tours.
• Pilgrimage visas for Kailash Mansarovar are prioritized, with China allowing the Yatra to resume.
• A traveler said, “Direct flights mean I can visit my clients without wasting a day.”

The rules balance openness with caution.

Lingering Tensions

Not everyone agrees:

• Families of soldiers killed in the 2020 Galwan clash see the flights as rushing “normalization” too soon.
• Reports of Chinese aircraft crossing into Indian airspace keep security concerns alive.
• An X post read, “Flights are great, but don’t forget Galwan’s heroes.”

The deal faces emotional hurdles.

What Travelers Need to Know

Planning is key:

• Bookings may open by March 2025, with round-trip fares around ₹30,000, slightly higher than pre-2020 rates.
• Stopovers via Singapore or Dubai are still cheaper for now, starting at ₹25,000.
• Air India and IndiGo are preparing, while China Southern may join later in 2025.

Travelers have options to weigh.

The Bigger Picture

The world is watching:

• China pushed for flights before the 2025 BRICS Summit, aiming to strengthen ties with India.
• The U.S. is cautious, wary of technology transfers between the two Asian giants.
• The deal aligns with India’s broader push to boost air connectivity post-pandemic.

Global stakes are high.