Beijing-Delhi flights resume as China and India expand air ties amid warming ties
Direct routes between India and China are set to improve further as Air China resumes Beijing-Delhi flights from Tuesday, the second route to India that a Chinese airline has resumed this month. The service operates three times a week – Tuesday, Friday and Sunday – using Airbus A330 aircraft. Economy class fares are expected to start at 3,570 yuan (approximately US$523), and are scheduled to depart Beijing at 3:15 pm and arrive in Delhi at 8:20 pm local time.
The second route will be resumed this month
Previously, China Eastern Airlines resumed direct flights between Kunming and Kolkata on April 18. The Kunming-Kolkata route operates six round-trip flights per week, using Boeing 737 aircraft. China Eastern Airlines has previously resumed the Shanghai-Delhi route in November 2025.Indian airline IndiGo has also been expanding its operations in China. On March 30, IndiGo started daily direct flights between Kolkata and Shanghai using A320neo aircraft. Previously, Indigo Airlines had resumed the Kolkata-Guangzhou route and launched the Delhi-Guangzhou route on November 10, 2025. According to operational data in April, the passenger load factor of IndiGo’s many China-India routes remained between 68% and 85%, with popular routes such as Delhi-Guangzhou and Kolkata-Guangzhou performing particularly strongly.
Relations heat up
The expansion of air connectivity comes amid signs of warming ties between India and China. Last month, India approved easing restrictions on Chinese investment in specific sectors such as electronics, capital goods and solar cells, marking a restart in economic ties after six years of friction.In early March, India’s federal cabinet approved changes to foreign direct investment policy guidelines for investments in countries that share land borders with India, including China, providing a clear timeline for approvals in key areas.
Expert opinion
Qian Feng, director of the Research Department of the National Institute of Strategic Studies at Tsinghua University, told a reporter from the Global Times that the increase in services by airlines from both sides is of positive significance for further consolidating the momentum of bilateral relations.“This trend not only promotes personnel exchanges between the two countries, but also represents a more practical measure to reduce supply chain costs and support travel for technology companies and manufacturing industries,” Qian Qichen said.
