Direct air connectivity between India and China is set to enhance as Air China resumes its Beijing-Delhi service on Tuesday, marking the second route to India restored by Chinese carriers this month. The service will operate three times a week—on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays—utilizing an Airbus A330 aircraft. Economy class fares are expected to start at 3,570 yuan (approximately USD 523), with departures scheduled for 3:15 PM from Beijing and arrivals in Delhi at 8:20 PM local time.
This development follows the recent resumption of flights by China Eastern Airlines, which restarted its direct service between Kunming and Kolkata on April 18. The Kunming-Kolkata route operates six weekly round-trip flights using Boeing 737 aircraft. Additionally, China Eastern Airlines had previously reinstated the Shanghai-Delhi route in November 2025.
Indian airline IndiGo is also expanding its operations in China. On March 30, IndiGo began its inaugural daily non-stop service between Kolkata and Shanghai, employing its A320neo aircraft. Previously, IndiGo had resumed flights on the Kolkata-Guangzhou route and introduced the Delhi-Guangzhou route on November 10, 2025. According to operational data for April, IndiGo has maintained a passenger load factor between 68% and 85% on multiple China-India routes, with the Delhi-Guangzhou and Kolkata-Guangzhou routes demonstrating particularly strong performance.
The expansion in air connectivity coincides with signs of improving relations between India and China. Last month, India approved the relaxation of restrictions on Chinese investments in selected sectors, including electronics, capital goods, and solar cells, indicating a potential reset of economic ties after six years of tension. In March, the Union Cabinet also reviewed changes to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy guidelines concerning investments from countries sharing a land border with India, which includes China. This initiated a definitive timeline for approvals in critical sectors.
Experts view these developments positively for bilateral relations. Qian Feng, director of the Research Department at Tsinghua University’s National Strategy Institute, noted in the Global Times that an increase in airline services from both countries signifies a strengthening of bilateral ties. “This trend not only facilitates personnel exchanges between the two countries but also represents more practical measures to reduce supply chain costs and support travel for technology companies and the manufacturing sector,” Qian stated.
