Punjab Police move to arrest Direct air connectivity between India and China continues to be restored in phases, with a Beijing–Delhi flight resuming operations after years of suspension, marking a significant step in rebuilding bilateral travel links.
The flight departed from Beijing Capital International Airport on Tuesday afternoon and landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport in the evening, becoming the second India-bound route revived by Chinese carriers this month.
The service will operate three times a week, on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, using an Airbus A330 aircraft. Economy fares are expected to start from around 3,570 yuan (approximately USD 523), according to airline officials.
The latest resumption follows China Eastern Airlines restarting its Kunming–Kolkata direct flights on April 18, with six weekly services aimed at boosting travel and economic exchanges. The airline had earlier resumed the Shanghai–Delhi route in November 2025.
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On the Indian side, IndiGo has expanded its footprint in China, launching a daily Kolkata–Shanghai service from March 30. The carrier has also resumed operations to Guangzhou and introduced new services from Delhi, deploying A320neo aircraft on these routes.
Direct flights between the two countries had remained suspended for over four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and tensions following the Galwan Valley clash.
While limited flight operations resumed in October 2025, the full restoration of connectivity has been gradual, reflecting the cautious pace of normalisation in bilateral ties.
The revival of air routes is being seen as part of broader efforts by New Delhi and Beijing to stabilise relations, with aviation links acting as a key indicator of engagement.
Increased connectivity is expected to facilitate business travel, tourism and people-to-people exchanges, which had been severely disrupted in recent years.
Officials said further expansion of routes is likely in the coming months as both sides continue to ease restrictions and rebuild cooperation across sectors.
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