IndiGo's CEO announces readiness for airline operations to China

After a hiatus of nearly five years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2020 Galwan Valley military clashes, direct flights between India and China are set to resume in September 2025.

The decision to restart direct air connectivity was formalized during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Delhi in August 2025. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Wang Yi agreed to finalize an updated Air Services Agreement to enable the resumption of flights as soon as possible.

Both sides have engaged in positive, constructive, and forward-looking discussions on bilateral and regional issues, emphasizing the importance of peace and tranquility in border areas. Alongside flight resumption, agreements were also reached on facilitating visas for tourists, businesspeople, media, and other visitors to promote people-to-people ties and business travel.

The resumption is seen not only as a transportation matter but as a strategic step to rebuild economic ties, boost tourism, and strengthen diplomatic relations after years of freeze exacerbated by border tensions and the pandemic. Priority routes expected to restart first are Delhi–Beijing and Delhi–Shanghai, followed by connections to Guangzhou, Chengdau, and other major commercial hubs.

Before suspension, around 539 direct flights per month operated between the countries, carrying over 1.25 million passengers annually, showing high demand that airlines are now eager to recapture. Additional measures discussed include reopening border trade at Himalayan passes and improving diplomatic and military communication to avoid future conflicts.

The talks have also touched on the expected entry of Chinese low-cost carriers into the Indian market. IndiGo, an Indian airline, operated daily flights between India and China before the pandemic and is ready to resume these daily flights as soon as bilateral arrangements between the two countries allow.

The Indian government did not provide specific details about the airfare regulations discussed or any agreements reached in the talks. However, the Indian government has sought feedback from airlines on their past experience of operating in China before restarting direct flights. The Indian embassy in Beijing has resumed issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens after a gap of five years.

IndiGo's CEO, Pieter Elbers, made these statements at an event on Wednesday. The official announcements and operational details are expected to solidify around late August to early September 2025. The talks between India and China on direct air services are ongoing, and further developments are expected in the future. Overall, the flight resumption is part of a larger thaw in India-China relations with an emphasis on diplomatic cooperation, economic engagement, and regional stability.

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[2] The Hindu. (2025, August 31). China, India to resume direct air services from September. Retrieved from https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/china-india-to-resume-direct-air-services-from-september/article32382646.ece

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