India
oi-Swastika Sruti
After nearly six years of suspension, direct flights between Guangzhou and New Delhi are set to return. The announcement comes at a significant moment – just as Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in India for the first time in nearly seven years for the BRICS Summit.
China Southern Airlines will resume direct flights between Guangzhou and New Delhi on September 21, 2026, ending a nearly six-year suspension. This resumption coincides with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to India for the BRICS Summit, signalling a gradual restoration of air travel links.
The Guangzhou-Delhi service is scheduled to resume from September 21, 2026, marking another step in the gradual restoration of direct travel between India and China.
China Southern to Resume Guangzhou-Delhi Flights
Saturday saw a statement by China Southern Airlines saying that regular passenger flights between Guangzhou and New Delhi will resume on September 21.
It has been stated that it would also increase the airline’s presence in South Asia through
100+ flights per week across eight round trips.
It has to be noted that this comes at a significant time because India and China have been looking to repair their ties after a long period of bad relationship between them.
Flight connections help achieve that as they provide better ease of travel to tourists, students, businessmen, and people going to meet family members.
India-China Flights Are Returning Gradually
It must be noted that this is not anew deal between India and China but a restart after the disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic and relations later came under further strain after the Doklam and Galwan standoffs, airlines from both countries.
Air India resumed flights between New Delhi and China in February 2026, nearly six years after the suspension.
In April, Air China restarted its Beijing-Delhi service, giving passengers another direct connection between the two countries.
China Eastern Airlines also brought back its Kunming-Kolkata route on April 18.
The reopening of these routes has gradually increased the number of direct travel options between India and China.
IndiGo Also Expands China Connectivity
The Indian airline, IndiGo, has been equally instrumental in reviving the air connectivity with China. On March 30, the airline launched a non-stop daily flight operation from Kolkata to Shanghai.
This came after IndiGo restarted flights to several other Chinese destinations such as the Kolkata-Guangzhou route, which was later followed by operations from Delhi.
It appears that there is renewed demand for air travel between the two nations from the increasing number of routes.
Why the Guangzhou-Delhi Route Matters
Guangzhou is a major commercial and manufacturing centre in China, making the direct connection particularly important for business travel.
New Delhi, meanwhile, is India’s political and diplomatic centre and a major gateway for international travellers.
A direct flight between the two cities can reduce travel time and make business exchanges easier at a point when India and China are attempting to restore economic engagement.
Improved connectivity could also support tourism, education and people-to-people exchanges.
Xi Jinping Arrives in India as Ties Show Signs of a Thaw
The flight announcement comes as Xi Jinping arrives in India for the BRICS Summit.
Xi is visiting India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is expected to reach New Delhi on Saturday. This is his first visit to India in nearly seven years.
His visit is particularly significant because India-China relations deteriorated sharply after the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, which led to a prolonged period of military and diplomatic tensions.
In recent years, however, the two sides have taken steps towards stabilising the relationship. Modi and Xi have also met at international forums in Kazan and Tianjin.
Modi-Xi Meeting at 5:45 PM
The most closely watched part of Xi’s visit will be his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders are scheduled to hold their bilateral meeting at 5:45 PM on Saturday. The talks are expected to provide a clearer indication of how far the recent
improvement in India-China ties can go.
While border issues remain sensitive, the gradual return of direct flights shows that practical links between the two countries are also being restored.
Who Is Travelling With Xi?
There are two high-ranking members of the Chinese delegation accompanying Xi Jinping, namely Cai Qi and Wang Yi.
Cai Qi is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China and acts as the head of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee.
Wang Yi, the Chinese Foreign Minister and a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, has played an active role in the negotiations between India and China, particularly in the matter of the boundary issue.
