Kumar Bahukhandi
A China Southern Airlines aircraft at an airport. The carrier has announced the resumption of regular passenger services between Guangzhou and New Delhi from September 21, restoring the route after a six-year suspension. Photo: Representational/X
Airline to restart regular passenger service from September 21 after six-year suspension, adding momentum to improving India-China air connectivity
Key Highlights
- China Southern Airlines to resume Guangzhou–New Delhi flights from September 21.
- Service returns after a suspension of around six years.
- Announcement coincides with Xi Jinping’s visit to India for the BRICS Summit.
- Air China has already restored its Beijing–Delhi connection.
- China Eastern has resumed Kunming–Kolkata services.
- IndiGo has expanded direct India-China connectivity, including Kolkata–Shanghai flights.
- Restoration of flights could boost business and people-to-people exchanges.
China Southern Airlines will resume regular passenger flights between Guangzhou and New Delhi from September 21, marking another significant restoration of direct air connectivity between India and China after years of disruption.
The announcement comes as Chinese President Xi Jinping travels to New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Summit, bringing renewed attention to India-China engagement at a time when direct aviation links between the two countries are gradually being rebuilt.
According to information released by the airline, the Guangzhou–New Delhi service will return after a suspension of about six years. With the restoration of its India operations, China Southern said it would operate more than 100 weekly flights across eight round-trip routes in South Asia.
Direct Air Links Gradually Return
The Guangzhou–Delhi announcement follows a series of moves by airlines to restore services between the two Asian neighbours.
Air China resumed its Beijing–Delhi service earlier this year, while China Eastern Airlines restarted direct flights between Kunming and Kolkata in April. IndiGo also launched daily non-stop Kolkata–Shanghai flights on March 30 after earlier restoring Kolkata–Guangzhou connectivity and subsequently introducing services from Delhi.
Direct passenger flights between India and China had remained suspended for an extended period following the COVID-19 pandemic and deterioration in bilateral relations after military tensions along the Line of Actual Control.
The gradual restoration of air services is therefore significant beyond the aviation sector. More direct connections can facilitate business travel, tourism, academic exchanges and wider people-to-people contact between the two countries.
The latest announcement coincides with Xi’s visit to India for the BRICS gathering, where bilateral engagement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also in focus.
Xi is accompanied by senior Chinese officials, including Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China and Director of the CPC Central Committee’s General Office, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
The BRICS summit provides another platform for India and China — two of the grouping’s largest economies — to engage on development, trade, technology, global governance and issues concerning the Global South.
The return of the Guangzhou–New Delhi connection, meanwhile, provides a tangible sign of the rebuilding of practical links between the two countries. While broader bilateral issues remain complex, the expansion of direct flights could make travel considerably easier for passengers and businesses on both sides.
