For the first time since early 2020, non-stop commercial air service now links India and mainland China again. Indigo Flight 6E1703 lifted off from Kolkata at 22:00 on 26 October and touched down in Guangzhou at 04:05 on 27 October with every seat filled, according to the carrier and Chinese state media. Although a single daily rotation may appear modest, aviation analysts say the symbolic value is enormous: direct lift underpins everything from executive travel and supply-chain inspections to the return of thousands of Chinese and Indian students who had been relying on circuitous routings through Singapore or Hong Kong.
The route’s revival follows months of quiet technical talks between the two civil-aviation regulators about reciprocal traffic rights and updated health-safety protocols. IndiGo’s management confirmed plans to launch a Delhi–Guangzhou service on 10 November and is evaluating Shanghai for the winter schedule. China Southern and Air India are also reported to be in the final stages of slot negotiations, which could restore capacity to 30-40 weekly frequencies by mid-2026.
Business groups on both sides welcomed the news. The Confederation of Indian Industry said reduced door-to-door times will help small and medium-sized exporters regain Guangdong customers lost during the pandemic. In Guangzhou, the Indian Chamber of Commerce noted that electronics buyers and textile importers can once again complete a round-trip in under 72 hours, critical for keeping factories stocked with just-in-time components.
Immigration procedures at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport have also been streamlined: holders of the new online Health Declaration QR code are clearing quarantine formalities in under 20 minutes, airport authorities said. Meanwhile, freight forwarders expect belly-hold cargo capacity to shave 12-18 hours off shipment cycles for high-value pharmaceuticals and auto parts.
While geopolitical frictions remain, aviation experts view the flight resumption as a confidence-building measure that could spill over into wider people-to-people exchanges. Should demand hold, the two governments are likely to revive talks on updating their 2015 Air Services Agreement, potentially paving the way for code-shares and additional city-pairs in 2026.
The route’s revival follows months of quiet technical talks between the two civil-aviation regulators about reciprocal traffic rights and updated health-safety protocols. IndiGo’s management confirmed plans to launch a Delhi–Guangzhou service on 10 November and is evaluating Shanghai for the winter schedule. China Southern and Air India are also reported to be in the final stages of slot negotiations, which could restore capacity to 30-40 weekly frequencies by mid-2026.
Business groups on both sides welcomed the news. The Confederation of Indian Industry said reduced door-to-door times will help small and medium-sized exporters regain Guangdong customers lost during the pandemic. In Guangzhou, the Indian Chamber of Commerce noted that electronics buyers and textile importers can once again complete a round-trip in under 72 hours, critical for keeping factories stocked with just-in-time components.
Immigration procedures at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport have also been streamlined: holders of the new online Health Declaration QR code are clearing quarantine formalities in under 20 minutes, airport authorities said. Meanwhile, freight forwarders expect belly-hold cargo capacity to shave 12-18 hours off shipment cycles for high-value pharmaceuticals and auto parts.
While geopolitical frictions remain, aviation experts view the flight resumption as a confidence-building measure that could spill over into wider people-to-people exchanges. Should demand hold, the two governments are likely to revive talks on updating their 2015 Air Services Agreement, potentially paving the way for code-shares and additional city-pairs in 2026.
